Agenda item

The Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust will attend the meeting and update Members on the following:

(a)   a proposed merger of the trust with Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and

(b)   a recent breach of conditions imposed by MONITOR, the regulator for Foundation Trusts. 

Discussion:

The Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust accompanied by the Chief Executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust gave an introduction to the proposed merger of the two trusts and responded to Members’ questions. 

Both Chief Executives highlighted that no decisions had been made at this stage but the feasibility of a merger was being actively explored.  They pointed out the potential benefits to a merger and discussed options for introducing areas of further specialisms in the hospital, which would mean that certain patients would be able to be treated in Medway for their condition, rather than having to be admitted to a London hospital.  This would also generate additional employment in the area.  Emphasis was placed on the fact there was no intention for either trust to close any core service, such as Accident and Emergency or Maternity Services, within either Darent Valley or Medway Maritime Hospitals.  As a point of clarification it was explained that as far as the merger of one Foundation Trust (Medway) with a non-Foundation Trust (Dartford and Gravesham) was concerned the merged organisation would be a Foundation Trust.

Responding to a question, the Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that redundancies were possible but that these would be administrative posts rather than in `customer-facing’ jobs.  He also stated that there would need to be independent due diligence applied as part of the feasibility study to ensure that proposed savings by a merger could be realised.

In response to questions the Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust confirmed that only preliminary soundings had been taken on the proposals and once the feasibility study was complete he would be determining whether formal consultation was necessary.  He stated that the original development plans shared with Members for the hospital would not be going ahead on the basis of reduced budgets.  He also confirmed that account had been taken of proposed increases in populations in both areas.

He undertook to liaise with the Democratic Services Officer outside of the meeting about the date at which a further report would be brought to this Committee but the earliest date was likely to be 5 October 2011.

The Acting Chief Executive of NHS Medway responded to a question about Healthy Living Centres and said that NHS Medway would be looking carefully at estate used by the trust and accepted the need for investment in community services to reduce the demand for more expensive acute care.

The Chief Executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust then advised Members of the position with regard to the trust’s response to the Monitor decision that the Trust was placed in breach of its conditions in relation to its failure to meet its overall financial plans in 2010/2011 incurring a deficit.

Responding to a query he stated that there would not be a negative impact on patients because of the financial position of the trust, in fact there were likely to be positive outcomes as processes became more streamlined and more efficient.

Decision:

Members thanked both Chief Executives for attending and noted the report.