Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (MWL) has been awarded the contract to deliver community health services in West Lancashire by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), following a competitive procurement process.
MWL will act as lead provider for the contract and will work in partnership with Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which has been subcontracted to deliver some specialist community services.
The contract will serve the West Lancashire locality, a predominantly rural district with a population of around 118,000 people, including Skelmersdale, Ormskirk and surrounding villages.
The contract is for an initial three‑year period, with the option to extend for a further two years, running from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2031.
The development supports the NHS 10 Year Plan ambition to move care away from hospitals and closer to people’s homes, strengthening community‑based provision and improving integration across services.
A Trust spokesperson said:
“This is an exciting opportunity to broaden the footprint in which MWL delivers community services to our local population, supporting the NHS 10 Year Plan ambition to shift care closer to home and strengthen provision from hospital to community settings. As part of this contract, we are pleased to welcome Mersey Care as our partner in delivering Specialist Community Services, which will further enhance both the quality and range of support available throughout the community.”
A spokesperson for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) said:
“Community health services play a vital role in supporting people to live well and independently in their own homes. In line with the government’s long‑term vision, we want to move care away from hospitals and closer to people’s homes. The decision to award a single contract is intended to provide greater stability for community services, support closer partnership working, and create a strong platform for ongoing improvement and transformation.”