Gregory Abrams Davidson’s Richard Malloy, Head of Clinical Negligence, shares his thoughts on the potential Liverpool hospitals ‘supergroup’
The Liverpool Echo has reported on a potential merger of Liverpool region hospital Trusts.
The merger would mean that eight hospitals, being Royal Liverpool, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals, which are run by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Alder Hey Children’s Hospital; Liverpool Women’s Hospital; the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre; Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and The Walton Centre would be working as one super hospital sharing resources and staff whilst at the same time they would continue to operate under their own identity and have their own Board.
It is said in due course this could lead to a merger, which over time could attract more investment into health research funding into Liverpool.
So, the question is, how will this impact on patients?
On the face of it, surely it would benefit patients in terms of limiting the delays so often encountered when specific health personnel are unavailable or theatres have to be closed.
The Trusts all working as one would help streamline the NHS service provided in Liverpool and provide a better service for patients.
However simply moving staff or patients’ appointments across sites may not necessarily be the answer.
What about the impact on the specialist services provided by one Trust that are not available in the others? Would the model of working as one super hospital spread the personnel too thinly if this is the rationale behind the proposals?
The NHS is already under great pressure owing to Covid and an ageing population. Only time will tell if this move will improve or compromises patients’ health and safety.
Gregory Abrams Davidson Solicitors specialise in obtaining compensation for clients who have sustained injury as a result of Medical and Clinical Negligence, including the investigation of potential delays in treatment and misdiagnosis. We have many years of experience dealing with claims for compensation against doctors, hospitals (both NHS and Private), dentists, general practitioners (GPs), pharmacists and opticians. We are experts at dealing with all types of claims for compensation arising from Medical and Clinical Negligence, including bile duct injuries, brain injury, child birth injury, cosmetic surgery, falls in hospitals, drug and medication errors, missed or delayed diagnosis of cancer and other serious illnesses, orthopaedic negligence including wrist and ankle fractures, pressure sores and deaths occurring in hospital due to both a lack of treatment and negligent treatment.
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