Heatherwood & Wexham Park Hospitals to Merge with Frimley Park in Camberley

Talks are in progress to merge the Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals Trust in Slough and Ascot with the Frimley Park Hospital Trust in Camberley.

After months of discussion the board that runs Frimley Park Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has confirmed that it continues to be 'strongly in favour in principle of acquiring Heatherwood and Wexham Park hospitals'.

Frimley Park, which is a joint MOD (Army) / NHS facility, has a very high reputation, being shortlisted for the hospital of the year award in the Doctor Foster hospital guide in 2012, while the Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals Trust has suffered a series of financial crises which have damaged its status and reputation.

Philippa Slinger, chief executive of Heatherwood and Wexham Park was quoted in the Windsor Express as being fully behind the plans. She said: "We believe that a single, larger organisation will provide a secure platform for service improvements and new service developments that will benefit our patients and the population we serve."

But she warned: "There remains a considerable amount of work to be done to reach the final legal acquisition of the trust by Frimley Park."

Sources:

• http://www.windsorexpress.co.uk/News/Areas/Ascot/Wexham-Park-Hospital-merger-with-Frimley-Park-a-step-closer-12082013.htm

Further Reading:

• http://windsorlibdems.org.uk/en/article/2013/712867/patients-laud-praise-on-heatherwood-hospital-in-nhs-survey
• http://windsorlibdems.org.uk/en/article/2013/709834/no-surprises-over-damning-hospital-report