Health services merger plans laid out

Plans to merge health services in a move to allow patients to be seen more quickly and efficiently have been published.

The combining of Kent Community Health (KCH) NHS Foundation Trust and Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) into one NHS foundation trust was "already decided" in March, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Confirmation of the proposal and details of how it would improve services for patients and staff comes ahead of a council health committee meeting on Tuesday.

While appointments would continue to be completed in the same locations with the same teams, the merger is aimed at delivering fewer transfers and faster processing for treatment.

It would see neighbourhood teams and urgent community response services aligned across Kent and Medway.

KCH said a single organisation would integrate community nursing, therapy and specialist input to support community rehabilitation and more joined-up care for people with frailty or long-term conditions.

It added that variations in service quality would be reduced.

Concerns were raised previously that the merger would result in resources being withdrawn from Medway.

But KCH and MCH have said the proposals would ensure money is spent more efficiently and provide greater resilience to financial pressures.

The plans were put out for staff consultation, with 88% supporting the move.

All current staff would be retained, under the plans, and those behind the merger said it would create greater job stability and more training and opportunities.

MCH was set up as a community interest company, a type of business designed to undertake activities for the benefit of the community and not purely for a profit, in 2011.

It is a £78m business with about 1,300 staff.

The process of merging the trust and MCH began in July last year, with work undertaken to understand the possible benefits.

A report was brought to a Medway Council health committee meeting in March but was deferred, with KCH and MCH told to come back with details about how the merger would actually impact residents and the service they receive.

The proposals are due to be discussed at Medway Council's health and adult social care committee on Tuesday, with the merger expected to take place in October.

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