Decision on Heatherwood and Frimley Park Hospitals edging closer

Published 5 Mar 2013 09:30 2 Comments

A decision on a proposed merger between Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is edging forwards.

The Boards of both trusts revealed in mid February that they were investigating a potential merger.

The Heatherwood and Wexham Trust recorded a deficit of £13.5m last year and is predicting a £6.9m deficit by the end of March.

Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust was leading an initial assessment and, depending on the outcome of this, a decision on whether to explore an acquisition of Heatherwood and Wexham Park would be made.

A joint statement from Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, released today, read: "Discussions are progressing between Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, with the support of local commissioners and Monitor, the Foundation Trust regulator.

"Depending upon the outcome of this initial phase of investigations by the Boards of both Trusts, a decision will be taken as to whether Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will lead a due diligence process to fully investigate the effect of a potential acquisition."

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This article appeared in Bracknell News 05 Mar 13

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• 

  hazelann70
  59 posts
  Mar 5, 17:09
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  The only good I can see coming from this is perhaps the Dr’s will be able to communicate with the hospitals more. I ALWAYS go to Frimley as it is a far better hospital than anything that’s offered in Berkshire in my opinion. However, because it’s in Surrey, it is impossible for communication to happen between Dr’s surgeries and them. If you have tests done at Frimley, it’s as if it’s in a foreign country and results can’t be obtained by your GP. I dread to think if they do merge though as Wexham would be the last place on earth I would want to go or have dealings with. Others may have had good experiences but alas, I never have and refuse to go there. It’s by the by that Frimley is so much closer!
  
  Recommend?   Yes 3     No 3

• 

  sandyandy
  10 posts
  Mar 6, 05:09
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  hazelann70, I have found the opposite - Frimely seem very good at getting records sent to them. Wexham allways seem to loose them, even the ones from Heatherwood. Not that there is now anything left at Heatherwood, all they can do is issue plasters.
  
  I also found the statement in a newspaper VERY interesting.
  
  “It must be recognised that Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospital Trust is no longer the preferred service provider in Bracknell Forest and that any attempts to manipulate the local market and inhibit patient choice or place the (Bracknell Forest and Ascot) Clinical Commissioning Group in financial difficulty will be resisted at the highest possible level.”
  
  http://www.getwokingham.co.uk/news/s/2128025_councillors_not_convinced_heatherwood_plans_will_give_efficient_and_good_quality_health_services_
  
  Recommend?   Yes 1     No 2

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