Hospital trust confirms 'strategic alliance'

THE chief executive and chairman of South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) are to take over the running of Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) in Herefordshire, it has been announced this morning, Monday.

Glen Burley and Russell Hardy will remain in their existing posts at SWFT and will work across both organisations providing leadership and strengthened governance.

A spokeswoman for SWFT said the strategic partnership was not a merger or takeover, and that Wye Valley NHS Trust will still determine the provision of healthcare services and both organisations will continue to deliver ‘business as usual’ services to their patients.

Earlier this month NHS Improvement confirmed that WVT had made quality improvements which lifted it out of special measures.

It is now rated as 'requiring improvement, by the CQC - the same rating that SWFT has, although the latter is currently appealing the CQC's rating.

SWFT runs Warwick Hospital, Stratford Hospital, Shipston’s Ellen Badger Hospital and Leamington Hospital.

Mr Burley said: “I’m delighted to announce a mutually beneficial partnership between South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust.

“My first priority will be to ensure that we can construct a solution which delivers clinically and financially sustainable services to the patients served by the Wye Valley Trust within a realistic timeframe. Alongside this we will continue to develop and improve services in south Warwickshire.

“To do this we will be sharing and developing best practice solutions across the many areas and challenges that the two trusts have in common.

"This will achieve the benefits of working with a bigger organisation without losing the focus on local needs and leadership.”

Warwickshire Police has been in a strategic alliance with West Mercia Police since 2012, while Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service has considered a similar arrangement with Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service.