Single chief executive for Blackburn’s council and NHS trust

Blackburn with Darwen Council has unveiled plans with the local NHS trust to appoint a single chief executive to oversee both organisations.

Earlier this year, NHS Blackburn with Darwen was re-branded as Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus, after it took over the adults’ and children’s social care commissioning functions previously held by the council.

The trust and council now plan to create a “single integrated management team” led by the new chief executive.

The initiative, understood to be the first of its kind in the UK, is expected to save £2m across both organisations.

It will go before the council’s executive board and the Care Trust Plus board on 8 July and is recommended for approval.

The board’s chair, Bill Taylor, said creating a single management team was the obvious next step after merging the commissioning functions of the council and NHS trust.

“The collaboration will bring about real and immediate savings and patient benefits,” he added.

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