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Dorset hospital trusts merger plan blocked Dorset hospital trusts merger plan blocked
(34 minutes later)
Two NHS hospital trusts in Dorset will not merge, the Competition Commission (CC) has decided.Two NHS hospital trusts in Dorset will not merge, the Competition Commission (CC) has decided.
The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital Trusts wanted to become one to save money.The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital Trusts wanted to become one to save money.
The CC said the merger would "damage patients' interests by eliminating competition and choice".The CC said the merger would "damage patients' interests by eliminating competition and choice".
A statement by the trusts said the decision was "fundamentally wrong" and that the organisations would "explore alternative options" for partnership.A statement by the trusts said the decision was "fundamentally wrong" and that the organisations would "explore alternative options" for partnership.
It said that the trusts were "deeply disappointed" as the merger was the best option to ensure "high-quality hospital services to local people".It said that the trusts were "deeply disappointed" as the merger was the best option to ensure "high-quality hospital services to local people".
"The assessment of the merger was always weighted to put competition ahead of benefits to patients, and we do not believe the NHS is best served in this way."The assessment of the merger was always weighted to put competition ahead of benefits to patients, and we do not believe the NHS is best served in this way.
"The two trusts have worked extremely effectively together over the last two years and we will continue to explore areas where we can work in partnership. However, this will not be to the scale we had hoped."The two trusts have worked extremely effectively together over the last two years and we will continue to explore areas where we can work in partnership. However, this will not be to the scale we had hoped.
"It will be much more difficult to make further savings as individual organisations, but we now need to explore alternative options and work closely with our commissioners as we look to the future.""It will be much more difficult to make further savings as individual organisations, but we now need to explore alternative options and work closely with our commissioners as we look to the future."
'Not enough detail''Not enough detail'
The merger was referred to the commission by the Office of Fair Trading, amid concerns about allowing two competing trusts to combine.The merger was referred to the commission by the Office of Fair Trading, amid concerns about allowing two competing trusts to combine.
The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has 601 beds across two sites, whilst Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has 623 beds across three sites.The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has 601 beds across two sites, whilst Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has 623 beds across three sites.
CC chairman Roger Witcomb said the organisation was "acutely aware of the pressures facing NHS hospitals".CC chairman Roger Witcomb said the organisation was "acutely aware of the pressures facing NHS hospitals".
"While the broad aims of the merger are desirable ones, there simply isn't enough detail in the hospitals' plans for us to conclude that any of the claimed benefits are likely to materialise," he said."While the broad aims of the merger are desirable ones, there simply isn't enough detail in the hospitals' plans for us to conclude that any of the claimed benefits are likely to materialise," he said.
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is already being investigated by health sector regulator Monitor amid concerns over its finances and warned it faced a deficit if the planned merger failed.Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is already being investigated by health sector regulator Monitor amid concerns over its finances and warned it faced a deficit if the planned merger failed.
The commission said it did not believe Poole would close as a result of the merger being blocked.The commission said it did not believe Poole would close as a result of the merger being blocked.
Annette Brooke, the Liberal Democrat MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said she was deeply concerned by the decision.
"We have a big financial problem at Poole hospital and I think it's really important that it is made financially viable," she said.
"One can certainly see there is a logic in merging management across two hospitals that are so close together [and] the bottom line is whether patients actually want choice over better services."