NHS bosses are disappointed after Cheshire West and Chester Council awarded a contract for supporting recovering drug addicts to the trading arm of a London-based charity.

Turning Point Services Ltd was the successful bidder leaving the current main provider, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership (CWP) NHS Foundation Trust, out in the cold.

CWP chief executive Sheena Cumiskey responded: “We are extremely disappointed with the outcome, particularly as our services are highly regarded and we have a wealth of expertise and experience built up over 15 years.

“We will do all we can to support service users and staff in the transition period.”

Since April 2013 councils have had a public health remit including responsibility for drug recovery services. Both NHS and voluntary sector organisations currently deliver the service across West Cheshire.

Council spokeswoman Shirley Wingfield said the decision was made in the context of the National Drug Strategy 2010 which backed a move from prescribing based services to a more holistic and preventative approach.

She said: “The council aims to improve the services that are offered and make sure they are following the most up to date guidance and good practice.

“Through the recent tender process we have commissioned a service that is consistent across the whole borough and brings together a range of interventions to support individuals.”

A recovering heroin addict, who wished to remain anonymous, rang The Chronicle with concerns about “a much lower quality of service” and use of “lower skilled” volunteers.

The ex-addict, who accesses services in Ellesmere Port, said: “You could see hundreds of people relapsing and crime figures going up just to save a few quid.”

Now a petition has been started on the campaigning website 38 Degrees to reverse what it calls the privatisation of the service.

It explains: “There was no public consultation over this decision, and no genuine reason (other than political reasons) for this service to even go out to tender in the first place! By the end of January 2015 more than 60 dedicated, hard working members of staff - all trained by the NHS, committed to developing and running this service will effectively lose their NHS employment as consequence of this decision. Ellesmere Port, Neston, Frodsham, Helsby, Chester & Vale Royal residents will all lose a very worthwhile, important NHS lead service, whilst clients are transferred to a private company.”

Turning Point said it had provided support in the Chester area for many years using highly qualified staff. The long-established peer support approach involved “rigorous training and continued supervision”.

A spokesman added: “Turning Point is a health and social care organisation with 50 years’ experience of supporting people with substance misuse issues to achieve recovery, across England and Wales. We work with anyone who needs support, including people with long-standing, complex issues.

“The new Turning Point service will build on existing provision and extend the community support available to people through GP surgeries, pharmacies and other community sites. Support will be provided by a dedicated clinical team, alongside our recovery workers.”