Jobs fear as NHS explores merger of three Birmingham care trusts

Nov 30 2009 by Alison Dayani, Birmingham Mail

DOZENS of NHS jobs could be at risk after a controversial review was launched into overhauling Birmingham’s three Primary Care Trusts because of the credit crunch.

Bosses at Heart of Birmingham, South Birmingham and Birmingham East and North PCTs – which employ nearly 6,400 staff between them – are reviewing whether to continue working separately or merge.

The total savings that could be made under such dramatic moves and job numbers at risk have not been revealed as yet.

An insider said it was likely any job cuts would come from the management and office-based ranks, leaving frontline health workers untouched.

Anna Donaldson, NHS spokeswoman for the Trusts, confirmed the review would investigate whether to create one single management team. She said: “This review will focus on how we work together to make the NHS more efficient in the current economic climate.

“The scope of the review will include exploring the options of continuing with the current number of PCTs while achieving efficiency savings and meeting the expectations of world class commissioning.

“We will look at whether to create a single management team and structure to support the three PCT boards or explore the potential for merger among the three PCTs.”

Heart of Birmingham PCT has already put on hold plans to recruit a new chief executive after the latest move, which could mean that position no longer becomes available.

A smaller merger took place in October 2006.

Then, Eastern Birmingham PCT and North Birmingham PCT merged to come under the umbrella of NHS Birmingham East and North with the management of GP, dentistry and other community health services in several of the city’s suburbs covered by the newly-created organisation.

NHS West Midlands Health Authority met with leaders from the three Birmingham Primary Care Trusts when the review was agreed to be carried out.

Discussions are now taking place before the Trusts involved go back to the health authority in January.