Hospital trusts agree merger plan

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Two south Wales' NHS trusts serving 600,000 people are to ask the health minister for permission to merge following months of consultation.

The Swansea and Bro Morgannwg trusts cover Bridgend, Neath Port Talbot and Swansea and together employ 16,000.

The merger would see a single trust with four major hospitals and a budget of more than £770m.

If Edwina Hart grants approval, the new Swansea Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust will be established in April 2008.

Paul Williams. chief executive of Bro Morgannwg, said: "I am delighted that both trust boards have unanimously agreed to support the merger proposals.

"They were able to do this because there had been such positive endorsement from both staff and partner organisations."

The trusts spent two months holding consultations with its health care teams, community health councils and unions.

It followed Ms Hart's announcement in July that she had approved talks between seven NHS trusts, with a view to creating three larger bodies.

Swansea Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust Serving a population of 600,000Four acute hospitals: Morriston, Singleton, Neath Port Talbot & Princess of Wales, Bridgend14 other hospital or clinics which have bedsIncluding 46 community clinics and health centresAnnual budget: £770 mEmploying 16,000 staff

The merger of Pontypridd and Rhondda and North Glamorgan trusts has already been approved.

The union Unison said it has no objection to the merger of Swansea and Bro Morgannwg "in principle", but it would be seeking some assurances.

Unison Regional Organiser Jeff Baker, said: "What we are concerned about is ensuring that our members are successfully employed in the new trust set-up.

"Alongside that, we have asked for involvement in any service changes that might take place."

Mr Baker said it was also important that specialist services remained in the communities they already serve.

"We wouldn't want this [merger] to lead to a centralisation of services," he added.

University talks

As well as the proposal to merge, the trusts have also announced that they hope to apply for university trust status, and are already in talks with Swansea University.

Callum Campbell, acting chief executive of Swansea NHS Trust said: "We have wonderful opportunities to develop and improve service to patients, pool and develop the skills of our staff, and boost research and development.

"Key to our aspirations to provide healthcare which is comparable with the best in Europe is gaining the university trust title.

"This would help attract even more high calibre academic clinicians and medical students, enhance teaching and research activities, and keep medical practice at the leading edges of advances in medical science."