If merger takes place around 850,000 people will be served by umbrella group

Plans to merge two hospital trusts is a step closer after bosses at health chiefs confirmed they will push forward with the idea today (Monday).

The merger would North West London Hospital Trust (NWLHT) which manages Northwick Park, Central Middlesex and St Marks Hospital team up with Ealing Hospital Trust (EHT), which manages Ealing Hospital, under one umbrella organisation.

However, it is not yet known how many jobs will be lost as a result of the merger or how much money the proposed scheme will save.

The move comes after a report by National Audit Office revealed that NWLHT was among 20 hospital trusts countrywide which were not clinically or financially viable.

Professor Rory Shaw, Medical Director at NWLHT said the merger would result in bigger teams of experts being closer to patient’s homes.

He said: “With these plans we can combine expert teams from both trusts to create bigger departments which are able to serve more people.

“It is a great opportunity to have the hospitals linked together in a specialised team with the same interests.”

However, the plans have been met with opposition with many residents fearing that that they may result in longer journeys to relevant departments if they are shifted.

A case for the merger will be proposed in board meetings which will take place on Wednesday and Thursday.

Should the idea be accepted, further plans will then be drawn out.

If the merger goes ahead around 850,000 people will be served by the hospitals.