Norfolk and Suffolk health trusts look at merger plan

Two health trusts in Norfolk and Suffolk could be merged in a bid to make efficiency savings.

The Suffolk Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (SMHP) is looking at merging with the Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The SMHP's board, meeting on Wednesday, will decide whether to halt its existing application for NHS Foundation Trust status, to merge trusts instead.

The board will look at the potential benefits to the services.

It will look at "opportunities for staff and economies of scale which might be achieved through a merger", an SMHP spokeswoman said.