The preferred bidder to run older people’s healthcare and adult community services across Cambridgeshire is a consortium of NHS trusts.

UnitingCare Partnership has won the multi-million pound contract following a lengthy selection process.

It was one of three organisations to reach the final stage, and is made up of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

It will directly provide adult community health services and be in charge of the budget for services including urgent hospital care for over 65s, mental health for over 65s, community health services such as district nursing, rehabilitation and therapy after injury or illness, speech and language therapy, care for patients with complex wounds, support for people with respiratory disease or diabetes.

UnitingCare Partnership will start delivering services on April 1 next year.

In a joint statement UnitingCare Partnership’s Aidan Thomas and Dr Keith McNeil said: “We are delighted that our NHS-led consortium, UnitingCare Partnership, has been appointed preferred bidder for the provision of older people’s healthcare and adult community services.

“We look forward to further discussions with the CCG to reach agreement on a formal contract that will enable us to begin to deliver the vital improvements to care for older people.”

The contract tendering process was overseen by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), whose chief clinical officer, Dr Neil Modha, said: “The aim is to have a single Lead Provider responsible for older people’s healthcare services and adult community health services, ensuring that care is more joined up than it has been, with a focus on improving the patient experience.

“The design and procurement process has allowed people from a range of organisations to come together, develop and propose solutions to some of the service problems that have challenged us for many years.

“I would like to extend the CCG’s thanks to all those that have contributed to this process to date, including patients, clinicians and Local Authority colleagues.

“The final submissions from all three bidders reflected the hard work they have all undertaken to produce proposals for improving care for our patients.

“We have been impressed by the constructive way in which they have engaged with the CCG and other stakeholders, and the commitment they have all shown to improving outcomes.”