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A trust whose former leader was ranked HSJ’s chief executive for 2022 is now planning to share its two most senior roles with a neighbouring hospital.
Mental health and community trust Dorset Healthcare Foundation Trust, ranked “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission, is linking up with acute hospital services provider Dorset County Hospital and will have a joint CEO and chair with the organisation, trust leaders announced this week.
However, the trusts are not merging – and will retain separate boards.
It is hoped the model will allow leaders to have a “helicopter view” of both physical and mental health services in the area, improving care through integration, and tackling the area’s health inequalities.
Currently, both trusts have acting chief executives after the high-profile departures of Eugine Yafele and Patricia Miller earlier this year.
Existing leaders have been keen to stress the differences of the new model compared to a merger. Dorset Healthcare’s chair Mark Willis warned such a move would cause “significant upheaval” and “distract us” from improving services.
It follows similar link-ups of acute providers such as Walsall Healthcare and Royal Wolverhampton in the Midlands, though the Dorset union may present unique challenges, due to significant differences in services provided.
Triple threat
A leading energy broker for the NHS has put a price on the scale of the crisis facing the NHS by telling one provider that its 12-month fixed rate gas contract is predicted to rise by 355 per cent, HSJ understands.
Crown Commercial Services, a leading energy broker for public bodies, told the organisation that the cost of the deal will soar by that amount.
The trust was also reportedly told its electricity contract is set to rise by 173 per cent.
It comes as the government is preparing to announce further support for non-domestic energy users such as NHS providers.
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