Filed under "Interesting"

I'm working through the various documents that FTs have submitted to Monitor and I came across the following in the Forward Plan (next year's plan) for Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust.

In the section "Goals and milestones to deliver vision" and under "Financial strategy and goals for the the three years" it says:

Developing a mutually beneficial relationship with Circle Health, with CUH providing and/or supporting a number of services either on the Hinchingbrooke site or CUH campus.

and later on under "Strategic Position"

Hinchingbrooke Hospital The Trust is committed to seeing a sustainable future for Hinchingbrooke as part of the regional family of healthcare organisations and to this end we will develop a mutually beneficial relationship with Circle Health, with CUH providing and/or supporting a number of services either on the Hinchingbrooke site or CUH campus.

CUH runs Addenbrooke's which is local to Hinchingbrooke and, depending on your point of view, is either a partner in delivering healthcare to the local community, or a competitor.

The phrasing of the statement is important. First the "beneficial relationship" is with Circle, not with Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust. The hospital is owned by the trust, not Circle. Circle are merely management consultants brought in to run the hospital for the next 10 years. Any relationship should be with the trust. Instead CUH has decided to have a relationship with Circle.

The second point is the statement "providing and/or supporting a number of services" does not name the services and doesn't even indicate the site for the "services" (it says, either your place or mine). That shows that the services are unimportant. It is the "beneficial relationship" that is important. Since Circle Holdings is bankrupt, it is difficult to see what could be beneficial to CUH in a relationship with Circle.

Finally, the Health and Social Care Act says that Monitor has to act to prevent "anti-competitive behaviour". Two neighbouring trusts striking up a "beneficial relationship" does not sound competitive. Monitor have had three months to look at this plan and as yet have not complained. remember this if/when Monitor comes down heavy on your local trust for being "anti-competitive" and ask why CUH and Circle are allowed to have a cosy relationship and your trust isn't.