Patient fears as three hospitals set to merge

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

The deal between Barts and The London, Whipps Cross University Hospital and Newham University Hospital NHS trusts was proposed to help overcome their financial problems.

Last year a report by an influential NHS advisory panel warned that the deal could reduce choice for patients in north-east London.

But the Co-operation and Competition Panel has now changed its mind after agreeing a "comprehensive set of safeguards". Health Secretary Andrew Lansley will make a final decision on the merger this year.

London health chiefs have said that deals in which hospitals "share" resources are the way forward. This is to overcome the £100 million debt crisis facing the NHS in London and to ensure that trusts achieve elite "foundation" status.

Newham University Hospital and Whipps Cross University Hospital have already been deemed "not financially viable" by an NHS London study published last week, which also found that Barts and The London NHS Trust would need more than three years to become viable.

But Catherine Davies, director of the panel, said: "The merged trust will be subject to close and ongoing scrutiny to ensure that quality of service is not affected. We looked very closely at alternative merger plans which would not reduce patient choice in the same way.

"However, while potentially offering a better outcome for patients, we had to concede that, in reality, any such alternative plans would be subject to considerable uncertainty and delay."

But campaigners warned that hospital mergers would lead to closures.

Geoff Martin from London Health Emergency said: "Mergers lead to closures. It's a finance driven merger. It will effectively impact on patient care at the end of the day."

Medical Directors of Barts and The London, Newham and Whipps Cross said: "This announcement is very welcome. The recommendation to merge came from clinicians wishing to improve care for patients.

"We believe that by joining forces we can improve the health of local residents, make services more accessible and raise the quality of care available in each hospital."