Hospitals to work closer together

A new health trust has been created for Gloucestershire

Hospitals and health services in Gloucestershire have undergone a major reorganisation, which should streamline services for local people.

Managers have described the move as one of the biggest changes since the NHS was created shortly after World War II.

The two main county hospitals, in Cheltenham and Gloucester, will come under a new health trust, with just one shared chief executive and one board.

Specialists at Gloucestershire's two main hospitals, including emergency consultants, will also work more closely together with the merger of their trusts.

'Local focus'

Cheltenham General Hospital and Gloucestershire Royal Hospital will share the same management team.

A new Gloucestershire Hospitals Trust has been created to oversee the work of both hospitals.

The revamped county health system will also include three new Primary Care Trusts (PCTs), which will cover all the GP surgeries and community hospitals.

The move should bring about greater co-operation between local doctors, nurses, and social services.

Stephen Golledge, chief executive of the new West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "We have a local focus on local decision making and local health needs.

"This is aimed at joining up local services. We will be working with social services and other partners to do that."

Gloucestershire Health Authority will close down, and some of its old powers will pass to a new stretegic health authority covering Avon, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.