Will foundation trusts’ merger in Manchester improve services?
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has concluded that a merger between two Manchester foundation trusts ‘will give rise to substantial benefits for the care of patients’.
CMA panel members say in their final report that benefits of a merger between Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust outweigh any harm caused by a loss of competition between them.
Benefits include reductions in patient mortality, clinical complications and infection rates. Patients expected to benefit from the merger include those at risk of heart attacks or strokes, and those who need vascular surgery or kidney stone removal.
The trusts operate nine hospitals in Manchester.
With this planned merger being cleared by the CMA, the trusts are hoping to complete their plans by October.
Further information
Gov.uk: Central Manchester University Hospitals / University Hospital of South Manchester merger inquiry
Gov.uk: CMA’s homepage
Gov.uk: Manchester hospitals merger cleared by CMA
Website: Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Website: University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust