A NEW date has been set for when the merger of the Poole and Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch hospital trusts can now be completed.

The outbreak of coronavirus prompted a decision to push back its original July deadline.

But following the easing of pressures, NHS Improvement has now agreed work can be concluded on October 1.

The merger of the two trusts has been progressed as part of plans they say will both cut costs and improve treatment.

As part of this work, Royal Bournemouth Hospital will become a major emergency centre while Poole Hospital will have an increased focus on planned treatment.

Planning applications for extensions at both sites to facilitate this are being considered by BCP Council.

However, the decision has attracted opposition, particularly due to concerns about the downgrading of the A&E department in Poole to an urgent treatment centre.

But Debbie Fleming, the trusts’ joint chief executive, has said it will bring “huge benefits”.

Concerns about an inability to complete the work required due to the pressures of dealing with the coronavirus outbreak led to an original July completion date to be delayed.

With this now easing, formal approval has been given by NHS Improvement for the merger to be completed on October 1.

“This is excellent news as we know that we can serve local people better as the larger, more resilient University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust,” Ms Fleming said.

“This merger has been a very long time coming, but we know it will bring huge benefits for patients and staff alike.

“Our new organisation will be able to make better use of resources and will be better placed to recruit and retain staff.

“Most importantly, by bringing services together, we can improve the quality of care provided for our patients.”

Joint chairman, David Moss, said there was “a lot to be done” but that the trusts were “well-placed” to complete the process.

Arrangements are already in place to manage this work with a “shadow” joint board established in December.