The launch of a new NHS trust which will provide mental health, learning disability and community care services has been pushed back.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is set to take on areas currently overseen by Solent NHS Trust and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The new organisation will also be responsible for some services previously managed by Isle of Wight NHS Trust.

After getting the green light from three existing trusts last year, the county-wide body was due to launch in April.

However, after discussions with NHS England, it was agreed to set a new live date of July 1 to ensure “as smooth a transition as possible”.

Health leaders said the aim of the changes – labelled Project Fusion – was to provide “stronger and more joined-up services”.

Caroline Morison, chief strategy and transformation officer at NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said: “Project Fusion will create a new trust for mental health, community, and learning disability services for people living in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

“The new trust will help to deliver more sustainable services, improve people’s access to more consistent care, and reduce the health inequalities that currently exist across different communities.

“The new organisation, which will be called Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, will also further enable staff to work together to best meet the needs of patients.”

“We are looking forward to the launch of the new trust and the benefits that it will bring to our local residents.”

As part of a phased approach to integrating services, Isle of Wight’s community, mental health and learning disability services were due to be transferred to Southern Health at the start of this month.

The new trust, which will take over most of Hampshire’s child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), is said to be the largest provider of its kind in England.

Isle of Wight NHS Trust will still be responsible for delivering ambulance and acute services on the island.