A failed merger between the two Trusts that collectively run QMC, City Hospital and King’s Mill is reported to have cost the NHS £10m.
Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH), which runs QMC and City Hospital, were due to merge with Sherwood Forest Hospitals (SFH), which runs King’s Mill, to help improve their performance as SFH had been in special measures since 2013.
However last month, NUH announced the merger was called off because each Trust needed to focus on improving different areas.
NUH said they needed to focus on improving A&E waiting times and also claimed SFH needed to focus on continuing their general improvements.
SFH announced they were out of special measures a week later.
The British Medical Association (BMA), the trade union for doctors in the UK, published the figures after submitting an FOI request which also found £6.6m was spent on ‘professional advisor’ fees alone.
We’ve spent more than £6m on private consultants to be back at square one
Patient representative group Healthwatch Nottingham chair Martin Gawith described the figures as ‘ridiculous.’
He said: “It’s astounding.
“You believe we have a professional NHS in this country but to see we’ve spent more than £6m on private consultants simply to be back at square one is horrendous.”
Rupert Egginton, director of finance at NUH, said that the failed merger has not affected the Trust’s finances.
He said: “Our financial position has not been adversely affected by the costs of the work associated with the long-term partnership.
“NUH has received financial support and reimbursement for the costs incurred.”
