Hospital merger backing

Mar 20 2007 By Alison Dayani

AN OVERWHELMING 85 per cent of the Birmingham public are supporting a ground-breaking merger between debt-ridden Good Hope and another city hospital.

West Midlands Health Authority trust board revealed the huge level of support as it formally recommended the merger to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

A public consultation today ended into Good Hope Hospital, in Sutton Coldfield, being dissolved with its assets transferred to Heart of England Foundation Trust, which runs Heartlands and Solihull hospitals.

Steve Coneys, health authority spokesman, said only 15 per cent disagreed with the move, which would finally solve Good Hope's years of debt.

He said Heart of England bosses assured patients that were no plans to close Good Hope's A&E or maternity services, but the merger would improve treatment instead.

"People have been assured that A&E and maternity will remain for the foreseeable future," said Mr Coneys.

"There were concerns over being transferred from Good Hope down to sites in Solihull and vice versa, but that is not the intention and main services will remain at Good Hope.

"People think this is the best chance for Good Hope to once and for all sort out its management and finance issues and give stability for staff who have been considering their future since 2003."

Mr Coneys added that job losses would be small in mainly "back office functions", the merger would see north Birmingham patients get better cardiac treatment used at Heart of England Trust and most people did not want Good Hope to change its name.

Paul Sabapathy, chairman of North and East Birmingham PCT, said: "Two thirds of our population we cover go to Heartlands Hospital and a third go to Good Hope.

"This seems logical so patients throughout this area get the same level of care."

If Miss Hewitt approves the merger on April 1, it will be the first time an NHS hospital has been allowed to merge with an independent Foundation trust.

She promised that the Government would also assist Good Hope with its finances in the move.