OFT considers first ever NHS FT merger

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has accepted for review the first ever merger between NHS foundation trusts. The OFT will consider the anticipated merger of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The notification is the first application of the enterprise merger control regime to NHS foundation trusts. The regime, which was clarified by the coming into force of section 79 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 on 1 July 2012, stipulates that mergers between NHS foundation trusts must be reviewed by the OFT under Part 3 of the Enterprise Act 2002. Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts and the body to which the Co-operation and Competition Panel is to transfer next year, must provide the OFT with an assessment of the relevant customer benefits for people who use healthcare services provided for the purposes of the NHS under this provision.

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