16 June 2011
The Board charged with helping the Trust's hospitals achieve foundation trust status has today (16 June 2011) announced the names of the organisations that have formally shown an interest in merging with Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals. These are:
Interested in merging with Epsom Hospital:
Interested in merging with St Helier Hospital (including Sutton Hospital):
All three organisations will now be invited to formally 'tender' to merge with their selected hospital. The tender process is due to start in July and close in September.
The 'tenders' will then be judged against a range of criteria aimed at proving how, by merging with Epsom or St Helier, they will improve healthcare and healthcare services for local people. The criteria include:
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The benefits the merger will deliver for patients;
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The new organisation's plans for managing, supporting and developing staff;
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Whether the partnership offers good value to the taxpayer;
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If the partner's own organisation is ready to merge, ensuring our hospitals are part of a foundation trust by April 2014;
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If the partner organisation is financially viable and able to invest in future services and developments;
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Whether the final option delivers better care for local residents.
The Transaction Board is supported by an independent director, Jon Sargeant. He said: "We are pleased to be able to announce the names of the hospitals that have shown an interest in merging with Epsom or St Helier.
"In early July, they will be formally invited to tender and will need to put forward detailed proposals which demonstrate why they should be selected as the organisation to team up with the hospital they're interested in.
"These organisations will invest a lot of time and energy drafting their proposals and they'll need to set out a clear vision for improving healthcare for our local population."
A number of events have been arranged in June and July for local people, patients and staff from Epsom, Sutton and St Helier hospitals to evaluate and determine the weighting of the criteria used to judge the tenders.
Jon added: "It's vital that local people, patients and staff help shape the final decision and their input into the development of the criteria used to assess the tenders will clearly steer the Transaction Board's final recommendation."
The Transaction Board was set up in February by our strategic health authority, NHS London, and followed a decision by the Trust Board in December that we were unable to become a foundation trust in our current form. Led by an independent team, its job is to explore and, once agreed, implement alternative options for our hospitals to achieve foundation trust status.
The Transaction Board, which is expected to make its final recommendation in October, is made up of representatives from the Trust, as well as NHS London, NHS South East Coast, NHS Surrey and NHS South West London. It also includes local GPs.
The Board receives advice and support from a number of key groups, including a Local Representatives' Panel, which is made up of 20 patient representatives, hospital charities and local councillors.
A Clinical Reference Group has also been established and offers clinical advice to the Transaction Board. Its members include hospital doctors, nurses and other clinicians, as well as local GPs.
