From today, NHFT will manage male inpatient medium and low secure services, national secure male deaf services and national secure male acquired brain injury  services.

Angela Hillery, chief executive of Northamptonshire Healthcare, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome our new colleagues, service users and carers in medium and low secure services to the trust and look forward to working together. Our immediate focus has been on ensuring we are together and safe from day one, and we will now build on that foundation by continuing to improve and develop these important specialist services for people.

‘I would like to thank our new colleagues, St Andrew's Healthcare and NHS England for their support throughout this transfer process. This transfer provides greater certainty for patients, carers and colleagues, helping to safeguard specialist care and retain valuable expertise and roles in Northampton.

‘We are committed to listening, learning and providing compassionate, quality care for the people who will come under NHFT's care. We know that we are on an improvement journey, and with our new colleagues, service users and carers, we will work together to develop a positive future for these services which support some of the most vulnerable people in our community.'

The transfer also includes a number of additional patients to support safe continuity of care while suitable long-term arrangements are identified.

Several buildings have been leased by NHFT from St Andrew's Healthcare as part of the long-term arrangement. NHFT's medium and low secure services will be primarily based at William Wake House and Fitzroy House, with care also provided to some patients at neighbouring Smyth House and Kemsley House, all in Northampton.

NHFT continues to provide an established low secure service at Berrywood Hospital in Duston, Northampton.