New Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust follows merger

The trust will serve around 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire

BASINGSTOKE and North Hampshire Foundation NHS Trust, which serves people in north Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire, has joined forces with another primary care trust to become the Hampshire NHS Foundation Trust, it was announced today (Monday).

The BNH foundation trust has acquired Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust and the new trust will deliver services at Basingstoke and North Hampshire, Andover and Winchester hospitals.

It is one of the first acquisitions in the south of England by an acute hospital foundation trust of another acute hospital.

The aim of the merger is to ensure they can achieve foundation status.

Hospitals with foundation status have devolved powers and are not directed by the government.

They have more freedom over strategy and how services are run.

A council of governors has been elected by the 18,000 members of the new organisation to represent the interests of patients and the public.

The organisation will continue to be led by chairwoman, Elizabeth Padmore, and chief executive Mary Edwards, who previously headed up Basingstoke and North Hampshire Foundation NHS Trust.