University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) and Heart of England (HEFT) Foundation Trusts have agreed to work together to create a single organisation.

The outcome will be one Trust running the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, the Chest Clinic and Solihull Community Services, as well as the Trusts’ satellite services.

Following agreement by both Trusts’ Boards, the next step will be to prepare a business case to decide on the best way to create one legal entity to deliver the best possible clinical care for patients – either through acquisition or merger.

Since November 2015, Dame Julie Moore has been Chief Executive of both UHB and HEFT. She said: “We have agreed that the current arrangements are not sustainable. If we are to continue working together to maximise clinical benefits for patients, we need to implement a transformation that will deliver better access to better quality services for patients, supported by the most effective structure.

“Patients are not getting that at the moment despite the tireless work of staff across both trusts.  We need our hospitals and services focussed on doing the best for patients, not protecting their organisational boundaries.

“The single Trust will pool the best talent and leadership from both organisations. We will make the best use of the finite resources available. By reviewing, rationalising and sharing resource across non-frontline services, we can then channel resource and investment into sustaining and developing our clinical services and sites.”

Dame Julie added: “The work undertaken between the two Trusts has so far provided greater sustainability and certainty for patients, the public and the health economy in the long term. The single organisation will build on this.”

Enquiries:      Carole Cole 0121 371 6484/07818 588729