SCAS is in arbitration over an unsigned 999 contract with Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK) ICB and remains in negotiation with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB.

SCAS chief executive Stuart Rees said: ‘The trust is continuing to negotiate with commissioners to get contracts agreed and signed for the services we provide to patients. Since the update on the contract situation presented at the last public board meeting, I am pleased to report some further progress in that the Frimley IUC contract has now been agreed.

‘Whilst negotiations are continuing on the other outstanding contracts and we are hopeful of reaching agreement on them all, if that proves not to be possible then any remaining unsigned contracts would go to arbitration (as is already the case with the 999 contract between the trust and BLMK).

‘The trust is focused on getting the remaining contracts agreed as an urgent priority as the longer they remain unsigned, the greater the risk that SCAS could miss its financial control total.'

A spokesperson for BOB ICB said: ‘We are continuing to work with SCAS on these matters and will not make any further comment at this time.'

A spokesperson for BLMK ICB said: ‘As this matter is subject to an arbitration process, it would be inappropriate for us to comment.'