MENTAL health services in York and Selby are to be run from Leeds after the service was put out to tender by the region’s NHS trust.

The board of NHS North Yorkshire and York has announced the contract to run mental health, learning disabilities services and substance misuse services will be taken over by Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust.

Meanwhile, services in Harrogate, Hambleton and Richmondshire will be tendered out to Tees Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesman for the Leeds trust said the details of the tender would be finalised over the coming months and that it was too early to talk of changes to staffing or details on funding levels However, Chris Butler, chief executive at Leeds, said: “Our intention is always to provide excellent mental health and learning disability services.”

Sue Metcalfe, deputy chief executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York, said the announcement came after “a thorough and robust procurement exercise”.

She said: “We believe the two well-established NHS foundation trusts we have approved for the contracts represent the best service providers for patients and the most sustainable option going forward for the NHS.

“We’ve now got to work hard to enable a smooth transition of staff and resources from the PCT to the new providers.”

A spokeswoman for The Retreat, one of York’s leading independent providers of mental care, said it was delighted with the announcement.

She said: “We have worked with them on other projects, so as far as The Retreat is concerned, it’s a good outcome.”

The contract, which will be in place for three years, will be brought in over the next few months according to NHS North Yorkshire and York.