LONDON, September 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambian Healthcare and re:source won the 2008 Independent Healthcare Award for their ground-breaking partnership to improve the lives of patients with mental illness. The award was judged by the Healthcare Commission.

The award recognises a new innovative programme that enables long-stay hospital patients to return to their communities.

In 2007, 47 patients from the East Midlands were transferred to Cambian's Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation Programme. The programme uses high staff ratios and intensive clinical inputs to work closely with these patients to rebuild their daily living skills and confidence.

Patients benefit from a better therapy programme, better clinical inputs and the least restrictive environment appropriate to their needs. PCTs benefit from clearer outcome measurements and reduced average length of stay. re:source states that the NHS has saved over GBP1.8 Million by stepping down patients from long-stay secure placements to intensive rehabilitation. Costs fall even further as patients are able to live successfully on their own.

The winners were announced at the annual Independent Healthcare Awards dinner, hosted by Laing & Buisson, the UK's leading healthcare advisory firm.

Ian Shepherd, Chief Executive of re:source, summarizes the project: "This market-creating and innovative psychiatric rehabilitation service demonstrates the transformational power of public and private sector partnerships. Reducing costs and improving patient outcomes were previously a fantasy. However, our ground-breaking relationship with Cambian has provided an inspirational reality, beyond the expectations of Commissioners, their patients, carers and extended families."

Press contact: Evans Ward Cambian Group 20 Berghem Mews Blythe Road London W14 0HN Tel. +44(0)207-348-5222 Evans.ward@cambiangroup.com

Press contact: Evans Ward, Cambian Group, 20 Berghem Mews, Blythe Road, London, W14 0HN, Tel. +44(0)207-348-5222, Evans.ward@cambiangroup.com