HEALTH minister John Hutton has given the go-ahead to a mental health shake-up in the North-East which is expected to save £500,000 a year.
The new trust - The Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust - will come into being on April 1, 2001.
Mr Hutton has agreed that existing trusts Newcastle City Health NHS Trust and Northumberland Mental Health NHS Trust, can be dissolved to set up the new, enlarged trust.
A spokeswoman for the Northern and Yorkshire NHS Executive said: "Setting up the the trust will save £500,000 in administration costs which will be re-invested in services."
Consultation over the merger received overwhelming support
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article