Daily Echo
HOSPITAL bosses at Bournemouth and Christchurch are expecting their planned merger with Poole to be barred.
A letter to staff, seen by the Daily Echo, says the Competition Commission is likely to reject the merger bid in a decision expected within days.
The chief executive of Poole has previously warned that his trust could slip into the red next year and be placed into administration if the merger did not go ahead.
Tony Spotswood, chief executive of Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Trust, says in the letter to staff: “It is likely that an announcement will be made shortly on the proposed merger with Poole Hospital.
“We will need to continue to work closely with Poole Hospital.”
He said the “anticipated decision” meant the trust could move forward with investment plans. These included the addition of 64 beds to ease medical and elderly care bed pressures and the appointment of a range of consultant and junior staff to strengthen out-of-hours and emergency services.
Christchurch MP Chris Chope had criticised the merger process. He claimed to have been told by Mr Spotswood that if the merger went ahead, there would only be one full A&E department – probably in Bournemouth.
“I think what this process has shown is that the hospitals have got things back to front,” he said.
“Getting the best services is more important than looking at the hospital structures.”
He added: “It’s a pity, frankly, that we have wasted quite a lot of time and money on this process.
He welcomed the plans for more investment in Bournemouth and Christchurch.
“That’s good. I look forward to seeing them and discussing them,” h