09 February 2017
Weston Area Health Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust agree formal partnership arrangement
The Boards of Weston Area Health NHS Trust and University
Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust have agreed to establish a
formal partnership arrangement, increasing the level of joint
working between the two Trusts.
This new collaboration is being created as part of the NHS
vision of developing networks between smaller and larger Trusts and
reflects the ongoing North Somerset Sustainability programme to
build a strong future for Weston General Hospital.
Building on long-standing, positive working relationships which
give local people access to a range of services delivered or
supported by Bristol and Weston clinicians, the two Trust Boards
have agreed to:
- Draw-up a formal partnership agreement, describing how the
partnership will help address long-standing issues of clinical and
financial sustainability at Weston General Hospital
- Develop a joint service strategy, setting out proposed areas
for co-operation, which could include a greater range of shared
clinical and management services
- Establish a joint management board to oversee delivery of this
work.
Work establishing the full parameters of the new collaboration
will start by April 2017.
James Rimmer, Chief Executive of Weston Area Health NHS Trust,
said:
"Our existing informal partnership will be taken to a whole new
level by this agreement with University Hospitals Bristol in a very
constructive way.
"I'm certain that being part of a hospital chain with the
Bristol Royal Infirmary, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and
their allied specialist hospitals is the way to secure a positive,
long-term future for Weston General Hospital and community services
for the ultimate benefit of our staff and the community we
serve."
Robert Woolley, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Bristol
(UH Bristol) who also leads the Sustainability and Transformation
Plan (STP) for Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire,
said:
"I believe that Weston General Hospital has a vital and distinct
role to play now and in the future, in meeting the healthcare needs
of the people of North Somerset.
"The STP is looking at how health and care services will work in
partnership to meet the health needs of local people at a time of
increasing demand and constrained resources.
"This agreement between Weston and UH Bristol is an important
first step towards the vision set out in the local STP of a more
integrated provider landscape across Bristol, North Somerset and
South Gloucestershire."
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