HC Deb 18 February 1998 vol 306 cc710-1W
Dr. Harris

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the health authorities and NHS trusts which have merged or changed their names since April 1997. [30212]

Mr. Milburn

There have been no mergers of health authorities since April 1997. However, since 1 April 1997 the following National Health Service trusts have mergedIsle of Wight Community Healthcare and St. Mary's Hospital Trust (£103.3m) to form Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust; Weald of Kent Community NHS Trust and Maidstone Priority Care to form Invicta Community Care NHS Trust; Wirral Community Health Care NHS Trust and West Cheshire NHS Trust to form Wirral and West Cheshire Community NHS Trust; Pontefract NHS Trust and Pinderfields NHS Trusts to form Pinderfields and Pontefract Hospitals NHS Trust.

Additionally, nine NHS trust mergers have been agreed for April 1998 with another 13 at consultation stage before final Ministerial decision.