NHS trust hospitals to merge
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.NHS trust hospitals to merge
Thirty National Health Service trust hospitals are to merge with savings being poured back into health services. Alan Milburn, the health minister, announced the merger of the trusts from April next year which will pave the way for more. It will reverse some of the Tory changes to the NHS, but it could lead to more hospitals being closed. The trend will be given a push with a White Paper on replacing the internal market in the autumn, which Mr Milburn said would "point the way towards fewer trusts and a new strategic role for health authorities".
Mr Milburn said the 16 merger proposals involving 30 trusts were "evidence of a new co-operative culture developing inside the NHS", as the Government moved to replace the internal market, in which hospitals competed with each other for resources from health authorities and GPs. But patients will be concerned by the possibility that local services could suffer. The mergers are likely to mean the transfer of some services to neighbouring hospitals to cut costs, which could increase travel to attend clinics.
Mr Milburn said improving services to patients would be the key test before mergers were approved. -Colin Brown
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments