HC Deb 01 February 2000 vol 343 c560W
39. Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the merger of the Southend and Thameside Community Care Trusts. [106276]

Mr. Denham

Southend Community National Health Service Trust and Thameside Community NHS Trust will merge from 1 April 2000 following a period of statutory consultation which ended on 31 August 1999.

The benefits of merger of the two trusts are significant. Equity, efficiency and access to services should all be improved. Elimination of organisational barriers will provide a platform from which clinical services can be developed. Thus best practice can more easily and quickly be implemented in respect of integration of mental health and other services in community settings. Management should be better placed to liaise effectively with stakeholders within and outside the NHS. The new structure will also improve local flexibility to make future changes easier, as primary care groups and Primary Care Trusts mature and take on additional roles. In addition, savings from reduced management costs can be reinvested in direct patient care.

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