COMMUNITY and mental health services in Somerset rank among the best in the country, according to the boss of the body that provides them.

Edward Colgan, who stands down at the end of the year as chief executive of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, praised staff for a year of high achievement despite many challenges.

Speaking at the annual members’ meeting, Mr Colgan said: “Last financial year can be described as a challenging yet highly successful one for the trust.

“Once again we can be proud that, thanks to our hardworking and caring staff, the trust has continued to deliver the highest quality of services to our patients, achieving all national health targets as well as very demanding local performance targets.

“In the face of these health targets there continues the need for significant cost savings.

“In the tenth year of increasingly difficult cost savings, we have saved £7.6million while protecting frontline services and achieved a financial surplus of £508,000 to re-invest in trust services.”

He said achievements and improvements over the past year include.

*continued focus on patient safety and ways to improve the care provided to patients, including an award-winning campaign empowering staff to speak up to recognise good behaviour and challenge anything that clashes with the trust’s values.

*official opening of the new Bridgwater Community Hospital and the decision to upgrade Chard Hospital next year.

*investment in mobile computer technology and a new dementia garden at Magnolia Ward, Yeovil, and refurbishment of the rehabilitation unit at Crewkerne Hospital.

*the launch of an integration project to make the greatest benefit from being a provider of community health, mental health and learning disability services to people of all ages across Somerset.

*winning new business in community dental services in Dorset and on the Isle of Wight, and in domiciliary phlebotomy, helping bedbound patients in Somerset. More recently it won the bid to provide early supported discharge services to stroke patients across Somerset.

Mr Colgan said: “This year’s successes have not been achieved in isolation, but with the support of many here in Somerset.

“I would like to put on record my thanks to our council of governors, our Leagues of Friends, who raise considerable funds to improve the environment in our community hospitals, and our health, social care and voluntary sector partners who have supported us over the last 12 months and with whom we continue to work to improve community and mental health services across the county.”