Not agreed to (From Warrington Guardian)

Not agreed to

merge trusts

This authority has not agreed any plans to merge local hospital trusts, despite the Guardian's claimed exclusive story last year.

We totally agree with Helen Jones, MP, that what people want is good services provided locally.

Our work at the moment is focusing on whether local NHS organisations will be able to apply for Foundation Trust status by the year 2008, which is Government policy. As part of that work and, in the light of other changes affecting NHS organisations, we are examining the way services are provided to ensure that they are sustainable in the future.

If merger is the solution in any case, it will only be proposed if this would enable services to be maintained locally.

As the Secretary of State for Health said in the House of Commons, any proposed merger between different trusts would not only be subject to full public consultation, but would also require ministerial approval. There are currently no such proposals.

Chris Hannah

Chief executive

Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority