'Services to remain' under Surrey hospitals merger

All jobs are secure for doctors and nurses under the plans, Mr Dunt said

Specialist services will remain on all sites under plans to merge two hospital trusts in Surrey, an NHS boss has said.

Peter Dunt, chairman of the trust at Guildford's Royal Surrey County Hospital, said there were no plans to diminish any services on any site.

A planned merger between the Guildford trust and Ashford and St Peter's NHS which has hospitals in Ashford and Chertsey has had competition clearance.

Mr Dunt said it would enable the trusts to combine rotas and make savings.

'Savings on administration'

He said he could not rule out changes in the future because some decisions were made by the Department for Health, but he added: "The plans for the merger are specifically designed to keep the services going at all three sites."

Mr Dunt said healthcare demands were growing but care was also becoming more expensive.

Rota changes would allow all patients to be seen by a consultant at a weekend, and merging finance, administration and support services would save up to £10m a year which would be invested in facilities, he added.

He said jobs for nurses, doctors, healthcare assistants and porters at all sites were "absolutely secure".

Lauren Te Kuile, from NHS watchdog Healthwatch Surrey, said significant changes would cause anxiety, and she urged the trusts to communicate clearly, early and in a way that people could understand.

But she added: "We're really pleased to see that the trust and clinical commissioning group are involving patients and carers in the decision-making.

"It's important local people have their say and they can do that by contacting Healthwatch Surrey."