We have advised Virgin Care on another major transaction as it takes over the running of children's services in Devon, following its appointment last year to run community health services for NHS Surrey.

Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Care was awarded the three-year £130 million contract to run core NHS and social care services for children and young people in Devon last year. As a result a complex range of children’s services have transferred to Virgin Care, along with over 1,000 staff formerly employed by NHS Devon and Devon County Council. The company will oversee around 2,400 children with disabilities, children's mental health services, school nurses and health visitors in an innovative three way transaction between the NHS, local authority and Virgin Care.

The transaction marks another landmark for Virgin Care following its selection in 2012 as preferred bidder to run integrated children’s services in Devon. The deal was notable not only for being one of the largest competitive tenders for the provision of health and social care by the independent sector but as a milestone deal for the independent health sector, taking place at a time of transformation within the health economy.

The Mills & Reeve team led by Julian Smith and consisting of corporate, health, real estate, regulatory, technology and other specialist lawyers, helped bring the deal to completion. David Owens led a team from Bevan Brittan, which advised NHS Devon and Devon County Council.

Julian Smith commented: “This is a key moment in the progress towards the provision of integrated health and social care services by the NHS, local authorities and the independent sector. It demonstrates the importance of partnership working between health and social care commissioners and the independent sector in delivering safe and ever improving care for children and young people in the UK. We are delighted to have supported our client and those it serves and to have played a part along with many others in enabling this transaction to take place.”

Karen Millen, Legal Director for Virgin Care said: “Thank you again for your work, advice and support through the Devon transaction and getting us to completion. The teams worked seamlessly and I do believe that is due to Mills & Reeve’s understanding of our approach - and a shared approach to achieving the outcomes in a positive and win-win way - in what has been another truly groundbreaking deal for us.”

http://www.mills-reeve.com/mills-reeve-completes-another-groundbreaking…