11/4/2008

Local News in Fleet

Hospital merger called off

THE proposed merger of Frimley Park Hospital and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital has been called off.

A joint decision not to join forces followed an eight-month review exploring the pros and cons of the proposal, according to a joint statement from two the hospitals.

“Both trusts found the discussions to be a valuable process which helped identify some potential benefits from closer working,” the statement said.

“The trusts concluded that for the time being they would work towards achieving some of these benefits by allowing existing clinical and support networks to mature and through the development of new networks.”

Merger discussions were born out of a meeting between senior west Surrey doctors, which advocated acute hospital trusts joining together as part of the NHS Fit for the Future programme.

It is not clear exaclty what prompted the decision, or what it will mean for the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford. A potential merger with all three hospitals had previosuly been mooted.    

The Royal Surrey recently started the 12-month process of applying for foundation status. This would put them on an equal footing with Frimley Park Hospital, already a foundation trust, should a future merger take place.      

Health bosses, however, say the decision not to merge will not affect services.  

The hospitals have said they have not ruled out the possibility of resuming negotiations in the future.

“This development does not have any bearing on existing emergency services and levels of care and both trusts share the vision of improving healthcare in Surrey,” the statement continued.

“For example, together they will continue to work with Surrey Primary Care Trust (PCT) and other PCTs to provide a broader range of services for patients in Surrey.”

First printed in: Surrey Advertiser Online

Related Articles A&E faced with new threat of closure

Links to other websites Frimley Park Hospiatl Ashford and St Peter's Hospiatls Get Fleet and Fleet News and Mail Online are not responsible for the content of external websites.