Trafford aims to identify preferred takeover bid by July

The trust aims to have identified a preferred bidder by July this year, and to receive approvals from foundation trust regulator Monitor, the Department of Health, and the Co-operation and Competition Panel by December.

This would allow the trust to be acquired before the end of 2011-12, its plan timeline states.

If the trust is not able to identify a preferred bidder it will move to an open tender by August, with the aim of receiving approvals by March 2012 and dissolving the trust by November 2012.