Surrey hospitals merge

14 August 2015

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) provisionally cleared the proposed merger between Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation. The two foundation trusts plan to offer more specialist services and to establish a major emergency centre on one of the sites.

Commenting on today’s decision by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to provisionally clear the proposed merger between Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Miriam Deakin, head of policy at NHS Providers, said:

Quote mark “Today’s provisional decision is good news for patients and for the two NHS providers involved which have been proactive in planning ahead to ensure the sustainability of high quality services for their communities. null

“It is important that competition law is not seen as a barrier to new ways of working in patients’ interests, particularly given the renewed focus on collaboration and integration within the NHS Five year forward view. As NHS providers and their partners seek to ensure the clinical and financial sustainability of services in a tough financial and operational climate, we expect to see much more emphasis on collaborative working.

“Both of the trusts involved today will be keen for the CMA’s final decision to be published so that they can progress their plans for local services.”

Read the full press statement.