|
|
 |
| |
Patient numbers could be halved
Royal Free and Whittington merger talks
THE number of patients treated at the Royal Free and Whittington would be almost halved under proposals for a merger of the two hospitals being considered by their boards, the New Journal can reveal.
The two flagging NHS Trusts are in talks about coming together as a “single organisation” with a view to slashing patient numbers from 950,000 to 500,000 a year.
Senior executives have held meetings this week with hospital staff about making a 7 per cent budget saving across all hospital departments although plans are said to be in the early days of a complex process.
One insider, who attended a formal meeting with trust bosses this week, said: “The difference with what we have been told in the past is that it appears for the first time the ‘merger’ word will be used, rather than the ‘partnership’ option. There will be redundancies at a merger, but it is hoped that the majority will be natural wastage or voluntary.”
Both the Royal Free and Whittington hospitals abandoned their applications to become independently run trusts earlier this year.
The failure to achieve foundation trust status has contributed to the loss of major contracts, including acute stroke services and a major trauma centre, to their powerful neighbours University College London Hospital and the St Mary’s.
It is felt that by teaming up as a super hospital, governed under one board, the Royal Free and Whittington could re-establish themselves as big hitters in the new NHS marketplace.
When former Royal Free chief executive Andrew Way quit in April he told the board the hospital was “coming under increasing financial strain” and recommended “closer collaborative working or a possible merger”.
David Sloman, the former chief executive of the Whittington who replaced Mr Way in September, has warned that North and North West London trusts are facing funding cuts of £600-£900million because of changes to funding tariffs.
The Royal Free Hospital is currently funded by the Department of Health to treat around 700,000 patients a year, while the Whittington has 250,000.
A Royal Free spokeswoman said: “The Royal Free and the Whittington have been having talks about how they might work more closely together. There is no immediate plan for a merger between the trusts, but the boards have commissioned a look at the case for merger, and this is currently being done.
“This work is based on the key requirements of ensuring the continued provision of high-quality hospital services for a combined population of 500,000 people and the potential for a new single organisation which would gain foundation trust status.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
