A proposed merger between two primary care trust provider arms and Ealing Hospital Trust should be allowed to go ahead, the cooperation and competition panel has ruled.
The panel had investigated concerns that the protection of patient choice might be endangered by the vertical integration of the trust with the community services of NHS Ealing and NHS Harrow.
Competition panel director Andrew Taylor said: “The vertical integration element of this merger raised some new issues for the panel who felt there was a realistic prospect that choice of acute service provider would be adversely affected for some patients.”
“The panel was particularly concerned that those patients using community services at the merged entity and requiring an onward referral might find their choice of acute care constrained, with preference given to acute services delivered at the merged entity.”
However, the panel said it was now reassured that the three organisations had committed themselves to putting in place measures to prevent this form happening and that the proposed merger was consistent with the Principles and Rules for Cooperation and Competition. It has therefore advised the Department of Health that the merger can go ahead.
Mr Taylor said: “The panel was pleased that in response to these concerns, Ealing Hospital, Ealing PCT and Harrow PCT committed to a range of undertakings to ensure that choice of acute care provider for patients in this situation would be preserved.
“The panel was reassured that that the proposed new organisation will face strong competition from other potential providers of community services in Ealing and Harrow to ensure a continuing focus on delivering the best service for patients.”
The case is likely to provide a good case example for other integrations between PCT provider arms and acute and mental health trusts under the transforming community services programme.
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