News / NHS
Two NHS trusts merge in ‘momentous day for health services’
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust comes into being on Wednesday following the merger of North Bristol NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust.
The merger has created one of the biggest health trusts in the UK, with 28,000 members of staff and a £2.6bn annual turnover.
The new trust’s 13 hospitals include the BRI, Bristol Children’s Hospital, St Michael’s Hospital, Southmead Hospital and Weston General Hospital.
One of the main aims of bringing the two organisations together is create a more “joined-up” healthcare service with a BFT spokesperson saying that “now teams are part of the same trust they can continue to improve services to benefit the local population and patients across the South West and beyond”.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust chief executive, Maria Kane, called it “a momentous day for health services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire”.
Kane said: “We are delighted to now be one single organisation working together to improve care for patients, support our people, reduce inequalities across our population and make the best use of public resources.
“While merging is a significant milestone, it is just a step on our journey and we look forward to building on the foundations we have already laid to ensure Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is fit for the future and continues to grow and innovate to provide the best care for our patients.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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