Health chiefs hold talks over hospital merger (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Health chiefs hold talks over hospital merger

2:00pm Thursday 18th November 2010 in News By Rachel Masker

BASINGSTOKE hospital could merge with the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester, bosses have revealed.

Health chiefs in Winchester meet today in private to consider options for the future of RHCH, with the preferred partner believed to be Basingstoke.

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust (WEHCT), which runs the Royal Hampshire County Hospital Trust and the Andover War Memorial Hospital, has held discussions with Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust about a possible partnership. South Central Strategic Health Authority, NHS Hampshire Primary Care Trust and GP representatives are also involved in the talks.

The merger, if it went ahead, would form a new trust for north and mid-Hampshire, serving a population of 540,000, and WEHCT would disappear as a small independent trust.

The proposal could potentially produce savings from economies of scale and cutbacks in senior management costs. The plan has been prompted by the Government’s requirement for all hospitals to become foundation trusts by 2013.

To become a foundation trust, hospital trusts are required to meets certain clinical and financial standards.

Mary Edwards, chief executive of Basingstoke and North Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Basingstoke hospital, issued a statement which said: “NHS Hampshire has been working with Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare Trust on their long-term future.

“As all healthcare providers have to be foundation trusts by 2013, we have participated in this work, as one of the options for Winchester is to integrate with a local foundation trust at some time in the future. No decisions have yet been reached.”

It is understood that under the new arrangement, RHCH would keep its accident and emergency department and maternity services, but there would be more sharing of consultants and specialist services.

The public sector union Unison has welcomed the proposed merger as bringing stability for NHS staff.

Winchester hospital trust, which has more than 100 consultants, is currently rated “good” for clinical services but only “fair” for financial management. Its chief executive left in March this year and its medical director is currently filling the role.

Basingstoke achieved foundation hospital status in 2006, and is rated “excellent” for financial management.

A merger would have to be approved by the two hospital trusts’ boards, South Central Strategic Health Authority and NHS Hampshire PCT before going out to public consultation in 2011.

Mike Gretton, chairman of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “We want to achieve clinical and financial sustainability within the Department of Health’s policy that all hospitals are part of foundation trusts.

“We expect to have recommendations from this work soon, and then we will start a process of consulting publicly.”

A merger could potentially cut senior management costs, with only one chief executive in post.

Caroline Villiers, regional organiser for Unison, said: “Basingstoke is an experienced foundation trust which could undeniably support Winchester Eastleigh and Healthcare Trust as it is struggling financially.

“There are management posts that will potentially be deleted and we want to make sure this is done in consultation with unions and staff.”

The move has also had backing from the Wessex Local Medical Committees, the official representatives of family doctors. Nigel Watson, chief executive, said merging the hospitals in Winchester and Basingstoke could mean consultants developed expertise together to meet more demanding standards.

He admitted there are mixed views about the plan, and added: “I don’t think there is an easy, obvious decision, but it’s clear that ‘No Change’ is not an option. Nonetheless, I don’t think patients will see any difference.”

But Dr Jim Rose, GP principal at St Mary Bourne Surgery and a former medical director of Mid-Hants Primary Care Trust, said he did not believe a merger would achieve significant savings. There would be costs associated with the reorganisation, including redundancy pay-offs for senior managers.

Dr Rose added: “My concern is what happens down the line. To make real savings, they must be looking at getting rid of services.”