The Boards of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust and Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have decided that there is substantial value to be gained from exploring the possibility of a full merger of their two organisations. This could lead to the formation of a new, larger, organisation with the potential to significantly improve the quality of care and range of services offered to patients in Surrey and other parts of the catchment area.

This initiative arose following the recent Surrey PCT discussions on ‘Fit for the Future’, and particularly the report facilitated by Matrix, concerning acute hospital services in West Surrey, which was based on strong support from senior local clinicians for, over time, moving towards one organisation running all the hospitals within West Surrey. As the financial problems facing the NHS in Surrey are coming under control, the focus has switched to the best way that hospital services can be provided in the future. The exploration of this possible merger, which could benefit patients across Surrey, North East Hampshire, East Berkshire, and West Middlesex, is entirely consistent with advice from the Royal Colleges, the programme recently initiated in London by Professor Lord Darzi and recent reports from Department of Health clinical leads and the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). These promote increased specialisation of clinical services.

Discussions between the two Trusts are now formally starting on how to build on the existing strengths and synergies of the two organisations for the benefit of patients. It is anticipated that these discussions will continue over the summer and will include staff in all three hospitals which make up the two Trusts; Both Trusts need to be satisfied that this is the right thing to do for patients, as well as the future of staff and the local NHS. This will enable the Boards of both Trusts to decide whether to enter into formal discussions with the Strategic Health Authority and Monitor (the organisation that regulates Foundation Trusts) about any proposal for coming together.  Any proposal to merge the two organisations would be subject to formal public consultation.