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Royal Free survival ‘difficult’ without hospitals merger
THE chief executive of the Royal Free has admitted it will be “very difficult” for the hospital to survive swingeing cuts without joining forces with the Whittington.
David Sloman said ongoing talks between the hospitals had reached the “next logical level” on whether the NHS Trusts should form a “single organisation”.
It follows the New Journal’s exclusive revelations earlier this month concerning the genuine prospect of a merger.
Both hospitals are set to lose more than one third of their overall funding – up to £900million over five years – and the Royal Free has already started a fire-sale of some buildings in a desperate bid to claw back funds to save patient services in Camden.
In an internal message to staff, Mr Sloman said: “Would we continue to be able to provide access to excellent quality care?
“Would working together solve the financial challenges that we both face? These are big questions... We know that it will be very difficult to meet future financial challenges on our own.”
While the Whittington is fighting to save its emergency department from closure, the Royal Free, as well as considering plans to sell off buildings, could hand over its car park to developers and increase private treatments.
The New Journal can reveal the hospital has already submitted a planning application to develop the redundant Coppetts Wood Hospital in Haringey into 63 flats.
A Royal Free spokeswoman said if the application was accepted in the New Year the Trust would put the property on the market.
The board is considering whether one of its most valuable pieces of real estate, the old Queen Mary House maternity hospital in Hampstead and sections of the Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital in King’s Cross could also be sold. |
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