Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust to continue our working together arrangement
NHFT and LPT have been in a ‘buddy’ arrangement since 2019. Because of this arrangement we have been able to work together on a range of initiatives including staff programmes, quality improvement work, strategy planning and more. Each organisation has embraced the opportunity to collaborate on projects to the benefit of our staff and those we care for and work with.
At the start of this buddy arrangement we were supported by colleagues from NHS England and Improvement (NHSEI) who offered guidance and shared insights from other Trusts who were also part of this nationally led, innovative way of working as buddy trusts.
At the end of our two-year buddy programme, we considered how we continue to access the benefits this partnership provides. After much consideration, conversations with our board members and meetings with our executive colleagues, our boards agreed to continuing our valuable work together, while still maintaining our organisational identities and structures.
From April 2021, we have agreed to create a group arrangement for both of our trusts to work within. This does not mean our trusts are merging, or that we will become one organisation. We are very clear on that. For us, this evolution means that we have a unique and valuable opportunity to continue our strong relationship through an agreed formal way of working and one that allows the best of what we both do to continue to benefit our staff and those we care for.