WHIPPS CROSS: NHS panel backs hospital merger (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WHIPPS CROSS: NHS panel backs hospital merger

12:46pm Wednesday 8th February 2012 in Waltham Forest News By Daniel Binns

WHIPPS Cross Hospital has overcome a potential stumbling block in its bid to merge with two other health trusts.

The Leytonstone-based hospital is hoping to join forces with Barts and The London and Newham University Hospital in order to gain Foundation status and solve its financial problems.

Last year influential NHS advisory body, the Co-operation and Competition Panel (CCP), said the deal could reduce patient choice across north-east London.

But after considering responses from the trusts involved the CCP is now recommending the merger goes ahead.

The panel said it had changed its mind after agreeing a set of safeguards with the trusts.

CCP director Catherine Davies said: "it’s only after very careful consideration and a comprehensive set of safeguards being agreed that we have felt able to make this finely balanced decision.

"The merged trust will be subject to close and ongoing scrutiny to ensure that quality of service is not affected".

She added: "We looked very closely at alternative merger plans for these hospitals which would not reduce patient choice in the same way.

"However whilst potentially offering a better outcome for patients, we had to concede that, in reality, any such alternative plans would be subject to considerable uncertainty and delay."

The Secretary of State for Health will make a final decision on the merger later this year.

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