The trust which runs Nottingham’s QMC and City hospitals could take over struggling King’s Mill Hospital.
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, is bidding to fold Sherwood Forest Hospitals into its operation.
The Sherwood Forest trust has been in special measures since 2013 following criticism from watchdog the Care Quality Commission.
It also runs Newark Hospital and Mansfield Community Hospital.
In October the commission rated King’s Mill as ‘inadequate’ after an inspection.
Talks are also being held with regulator Monitor and both trusts over a merger in a bid to create one of the region’s biggest NHS operations.
This gives us the best chance
Peter Herring, Sherwood Forest Hospitals Trust interim chief executive said: “Whilst we are already making good progress in addressing the concerns raised by the Care Quality Commission’s report, we believe we could make more rapid progress and improvements by formally combining with another NHS organisation.
“We have explored a number of options and scenarios, and now believe this gives us the best chance of achieving our goal.
“A long-term partnership will allow our hospitals to benefit from a stable leadership team and their strong working practices.
“The partnership will also improve our ability to recruit into key medical and nursing posts. Crucially, it will quickly improve the quality of services we provide, by giving clinical support in areas where we need it most.”
Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust are also involved in a bid for a merger.
A decision on which trust is the preferred option is due next month, before more details are finalised.
