16.06.17
Manchester merger will be cleared if patient benefit is found
A merger between two Manchester hospital trusts took a step forward this week as it was announced that the move will be cleared if patient benefit is found to outweigh any loss to competition and choice of services.
In a provisional report released by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the impact to the quality of healthcare services from a merger of Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS FT (CMFT) and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS FT (UHSM) was reviewed.
The report by independent CMA panel members found that the reform would have some effect on competition and patient choice in the supply of elective services and some specialist services.
But it also revealed that significant financial pressures in the NHS, along with local plans which focus on greater collaboration and integration between healthcare providers, has dampened the role of competition between the trusts.
The news also follows NHE revealing last month that the £27m merger still carried “inherent risk,” according to a report published by the GM Health and Social Care Partnership.
The CMA will now look into whether the benefit to patient care is big enough to justify the merger, which would see Wythenshawe Hospital and Withington Community Hospital, which are currently under the remit of UHSM join up with Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, Altrincham Hospital, Saint Mary’s Hospital, The University Dental Hospital and Trafford General Hospital – currently operated by CMFT.
“If we see convincing evidence of how this merger can benefit patients then we will look to clear it,” said John Wotton, chair of the Manchester hospitals merger inquiry group. “We will now examine carefully the case put forward by the trusts before we come to a final decision on whether those benefits to patients will outweigh any loss of competition or choice.”
He added that although the merger could reduce choice for patients and commissioners, the group thought that the effects were likely to be limited.
“Recent developments both nationally – and in Manchester following devolution of health and social care – mean that in practice NHS providers are less able to act independently, which limits the extent to which they look to compete with each other,” concluded Wotton.
To access the provisional findings report, click here. The CMA must publish its final decision by 13 August 2017.
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