Mergers and acquisitions are firmly on the agenda for the future but have had a patchy record in the health service. HSJ gathered an expert roundtable to wrestle over what makes M&A marvellous − and appalling. By Andy Cowper

Download HSJ’s special report from the roundtable debate

Participants in the roundtable

Dr Mark Goldman, management consultant and former chief executive at Heart of Birmingham Foundation Trust

Lucy Moore, associate at Deloitte Consulting (restructuring expert)

Sir Robert Naylor, chief executive at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust

Bob Ricketts, director of provider transition at the Department of Health and commissioning support strategy and market development director at the NHS Commissioning Board

Catherine Davies, executive director of cooperation and competition at Monitor

Professor Naomi Fulop, University College London, author of major study on NHS mergers

Matt Tee, chief operating officer at the NHS Commissioning Board, managing director at Reputate, and former director of government communications at the Cabinet Office

Julia Whitehouse, HR consultant and former interim director of HR at Barts Health Trust

Gavin Johnstone, managing partner and founder at Hunter Healthcare, which provides executive talent to the healthcare sector

Ben James, founding partner at Hunter Healthcare

Alastair McLellan, HSJ editor (roundtable chair)

HSJ’s special report from the M&A roundtable is free to download