Report on Barnet/Royal Free Hospitals merger says costs likely to rise and patient choice reduced
NHS report reveals NHS competition gone mad
Labour London Assembly Andrew Dismore has seen a report of the NHS Co-operation and Completion Panel on the proposed merger of Barnet and Royal Free hospitals. In requiring further investigations, the panel decided, amongst other points that (para 7):
“We decided that there is a realistic prospect that the merger transaction may lead to costs to patients and taxpayers in respect of standard elective care by reducing patient choice and competition for the services. We also decided that there is a realistic prospect that the merger transaction may lead to costs to patients and taxpayers in respect of non-elective care, because of the reduction in choice for commissioners of providers of these services.”
Mr Dismore, a member of the London Assembly Health Committee, said:
“The overriding emphasis on competition under the Conservative led coalition is leading to some startling consequences. The panel seems more concerned with competition than co-operation, but it is clear from their report that there is little prospect of either the patient or the taxpayer gaining from this merger. Whether it is planned or emergency treatment, the message is the same. There will be reduced choice and increased costs.
It is obvious to everyone except the Government that their continual drive to cut, close and merge hospitals, often in breach of their election promises, is bad news; and far from helping reduce this Government’s NHS deficit it will make things even worse. But more importantly, it is patients who will again suffer the consequences of this Government’s mismanagement of the NHS.”
