Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015

"Our review paints a picture of a highly centralised and politicised system where providers pursue mergers at the instigation of national bodies, often in pursuit of foundation trust status or in response to financial or clinical failure. Hard-pressed NHS leaders appear to be betting the farm on mergers for severely challenged providers, typically after a range of alternative strategies have been attempted.

This is despite the paucity of evidence that mergers offer lasting solutions for challenged hospitals. Our review has highlighted the length of time, costs and risks involved in mergers. Others have shown that mergers are unlikely to deliver the intended benefits."

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015
B Collins
The King's Fund
September 2015

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Mergers in the NHS

"The introduction of competition into the provision of NHS-funded hospital care in England has meant that the work of NHS providers and commissioners has become increasingly exposed to competition regulation."

Mergers in the NHS: Lessons from the decision to block the proposed merger of hospitals in Bournemouth and Poole
E Spencelayh, J Dixon
December 2014

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Future organisational models for the NHS

"The Dalton review will include an exploration of different ways in which high-performing organisations might help those providers in difficulty – including buddying arrangements, franchising, turnaround and the creation of hospital chains."

Future organisational models for the NHS: Perspectives for the Dalton review
The King's Fund, Foundation Trust Network
July 2014

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The effect of hospital mergers on long-term sickness absence among hospital employees

"Mergers have a significant effect on employee health that should be taken into consideration when deciding to merge hospitals."

The effect of hospital mergers on long-term sickness absence among hospital employees: a fixed effects multivariate regression analysis using panel data
LE Kjekshus, VH Bernstrom, E Dahl, T Lorentzen
BMC Health Services Research, 2014, 14:50

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Takeover: tackling failing NHS hospitals

"Looking at case studies and published research, the authors examine the body of evidence about why past mergers have not worked and identify the key determinants of success."

Takeover: tackling failing NHS hospitals
P Corrigan, J Higton, S Morioka
Reform
September 2012

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Merger mania and hospital outcomes in the English NHS

"Given that mergers reduce the scope for competition between hospitals the findings suggest that further merger activity may not be the appropriate way of dealing with poorly performing hospitals."

Can governments do it better? Merger mania and hospital outcomes in the English NHS
M Gaynor, M Laudicella, C Propper
The Centre for Market and Public Organisation
January 2012

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