News

New trust launches in Manchester as part of major merger

A new city trust has launched in Manchester today following the merger of two major hospital trusts in the area.

Following the approval of the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS FT (CMFT) and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS FT (UHSM) merger by the CMA, the trust has today been established to improve care for patients in Manchester, Trafford and its wider communities.

The new provider, Manchester University NHS FT (MFT), brings together all hospitals which were part of the two trusts into one new organisation. North Manchester General Hospital is also planned to be integrated in around 12-18 months’ time.

Back in June, the CMA announced that the merger would be cleared if patient benefit was found, something which was confirmed officially in August.

Kathy Cowell OBE DL, chair of MFT, said: “This is good news for the communities our hospitals serve. We have undertaken a rigorous approvals process to create our new organisation and a huge amount of work has taken place to get to this point.”

Sir Michael Deegan CBE, the new trust’s chief executive, explained that the provider already had great hospitals and staff but by bringing them together, it has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become even better and address the health inequalities that exist in the city.

“Together, we will be stronger, and able to make an even greater contribution to health education, research and innovation,” he added.

Ian Williamson, chief accountable officer for Manchester Health and Care Commissioning, noted that commissioners are determined to play their role in a drive “that can bring more consistency in services and quality”, regardless of where residents live.

And Sir Richard Leese, chair of Manchester’s Health and Wellbeing Board and former Manchester City Council boss, stated: “This step is one of the fundamental parts of the vision for creating a healthier Manchester, outlined in the city’s locality plan.

“This single trust, along with the development of a local care organisation that will provide community-based care near people’s homes, are both vital to this transformation work to improve the health of everyone who lives here.”

The hospitals currently included in the new trust are:

• Manchester Royal Eye Hospital
• Manchester Royal Infirmary
• Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
• Saint Mary's Hospital
• The University Dental Hospital
• Altrincham Hospital
• Trafford General Hospital
• Wythenshawe Hospital
• Withington Community Hospital