Tories may force Royal Free and Whittington hospital merger

Published: 2 September, 2010
by TOM FOOT

THE Royal Free and Whittington hospitals could be forced to merge if Conservative reforms to the NHS are approved, a council report has said.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s reforms aim to make every hospital an independently-run “Foundation Trust”.

Despite years of trying under the previous Labour Government, the Royal Free or the Whittington failed to convince the regulator Monitor they could manage their own finances properly.

Failure to do so again would push them into a merger, according to the report to Camden health and scrutiny committee.

The report said:    “The requirement for Foundation Trust status has implications for the Royal Free and Whittington, which may face merger if they are not accepted by the Monitor.”

The number of patients treated would be slashed and campaigners warned there was a “real danger” of cuts to beds and staff. The trusts are already facing cuts of up to £900million because of changes to funding tariffs.

Senior executives at both hospitals have held meetings with staff about a 7 per cent budget saving across all departments.

The council report adds that the upheaval to the NHS could leave Camden health services worse off.

The NHS Board – which will decide how much funding is given to GPs and the local authority in Camden – is expected to bring about a dramatic reduction in funding that “would be very difficult to manage”.

Under the changes, NHS Camden would be abolished and GPs given control of 80 per cent of funding decisions.

Campaigners believe this will bring about the mass privatisation of the National Health Service.

The proposals would also see councillors become responsible for funding vaccinations and the screening of patients.

The health scrutiny committee has arranged a series of meetings over the next few months.