Health boards back NHS mergers

A final decision is expected in May

The future structure of the NHS in the West Midlands is to undergo a huge shake up under health authority plans.

Proposals include merging all three Strategic Health Authorities (SHA) in the area.

The number of Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in Shropshire and Staffordshire could also be reduced from 10 to four.

The proposals come after public consultation of more than 2,000 people. Health secretary Patricia Hewitt will make a final decision in May.

A spokesman for West Midlands South SHA said the mergers would save money in administration costs which would be put into frontline care.

Focus on services

The recommendations come after the announcements of more than 3,000 job cuts by English NHS trusts since the beginning of March.

The board of the Shropshire and Staffordshire Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and the West Midlands South SHA met separately on Wednesday to discuss the plans.

Other recommendations to the Department of Health include:

• A single PCT for Stoke-on-Trent, a single PCT for Staffordshire and to keep Shropshire County PCT and Telford and Wrekin PCT as they are.

• Halving the number of PCTs currently under the jurisdiction of the West Midlands South SHA from eight to four but, for Coventry PCT and Herefordshire PCT to keep their same boundaries.

• The three PCTs in Warwickshire - South, North and Rugby - to merge as a Warwickshire-wide service.

• The three PCTs in Worcestershire - Wyre Forest, South Worcestershire and Redditch and Bromsgrove - to merge to create one trust for the county.

The SHA believes that this new approach will require PCTs to focus more on commissioning of services.