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| Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals back merger plans | |
| (1 day later) | |
| Three hospital trusts have backed merger proposals that could create one of the largest NHS trusts. | |
| The boards of Basildon, Southend and Broomfield hospitals in Essex have approved the formal start of the process. | |
| A merger would "modernise services" and make care "more reliable and safer for patients", a consultants' report said. | A merger would "modernise services" and make care "more reliable and safer for patients", a consultants' report said. |
| Opponents are concerned the move could reduce the number of services and affect staff's pay and conditions. | |
| The three trusts have a combined financial deficit of more than £49m, according to board papers. | The three trusts have a combined financial deficit of more than £49m, according to board papers. |
| A new single organisation covering all three areas could be in place by April 2019. | A new single organisation covering all three areas could be in place by April 2019. |
| Read more Essex stories here | Read more Essex stories here |
| A public consultation will run until 9 March, with a final decision to be made in the summer. | A public consultation will run until 9 March, with a final decision to be made in the summer. |
| A report said research identified below-average performance in areas including cancer waiting times, patient experiences and care and support for patients with long-term conditions. | A report said research identified below-average performance in areas including cancer waiting times, patient experiences and care and support for patients with long-term conditions. |
| "Change has to happen to maintain the safety and quality of care in the future, and in a way that will improve outcomes for patients and support our staff," it continued. | "Change has to happen to maintain the safety and quality of care in the future, and in a way that will improve outcomes for patients and support our staff," it continued. |
| If approved, the new trust would serve more than 1.1 million people across Essex, employing more than 14,000 staff. | If approved, the new trust would serve more than 1.1 million people across Essex, employing more than 14,000 staff. |
| The hospitals have worked collaboratively since 2016, and are currently run by a joint executive group. | The hospitals have worked collaboratively since 2016, and are currently run by a joint executive group. |
| Chief executive Clare Panniker said a number of options had been tested "in a rigorous appraisal process". | Chief executive Clare Panniker said a number of options had been tested "in a rigorous appraisal process". |
| She added: "The recommended option is to work as one organisation." | She added: "The recommended option is to work as one organisation." |
| Mike Fieldhouse, secretary of Save Southend NHS, said the group was "very much opposed" to the merger. | Mike Fieldhouse, secretary of Save Southend NHS, said the group was "very much opposed" to the merger. |
| "This would inevitably lead to a reduction in the number of services available locally to patients, plus the potential implications for staff contracts, conditions and pay are huge, too," he said. | |
| Following the meeting Nick Alston, chairman of the Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust - which runs Broomfield Hospital - said he hoped the changes would create a staff "more motivated and more enthusiastic". | |
| "Nurses love working here but are looking for more opportunities for training. It will be easier to deliver this [with the merger]," he said. |