FAQs
We understand that many people will have questions about the integration of Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and how we will come together to form one single organisation.
Please complete this form to share your feedback and help shape our plans.
Here are some of our most frequently asked questions.
How will these changes affect my care?
To start with you should notice minimal changes to your care – you will continue to see the same healthcare professionals at your local hospital, in your community, or at home.
Over time we aim to enhance the quality of care and make more advanced use of technology. Depending on the care you receive you may also experience additional benefits such as shorter wait times or increased support outside of appointments.
We will engage with our local communities so that as many people as possible can help us to shape plans.
Formal consultations on proposed changes to clinical services may be required in the future, which will provide another opportunity for people to share their views.
Over time we aim to enhance the quality of care and make more advanced use of technology. Depending on the care you receive you may also experience additional benefits such as shorter wait times or increased support outside of appointments.
We will engage with our local communities so that as many people as possible can help us to shape plans.
Formal consultations on proposed changes to clinical services may be required in the future, which will provide another opportunity for people to share their views.
Will it reduce waiting times?
Yes.
Bringing our organisations together will enable us to improve access to services and reduce waiting times.
The extent of this may vary by service as there are many other factors involved in waiting times, including some that are beyond our control.
Bringing our organisations together will enable us to improve access to services and reduce waiting times.
The extent of this may vary by service as there are many other factors involved in waiting times, including some that are beyond our control.
What will these new arrangements offer that the existing separate trusts cannot?
We believe that more joined up, seamless, integrated care is best for patients.
We know that people are living longer, with more complex healthcare needs and with more interactions with multiple parts of the healthcare system. Having fragmented services can increase clinical risk and negatively impact on overall patient experience.
Another big advantage is scale. A larger organisation can provide services more efficiently and with greater resilience, offering a broader range of recruitment opportunities and becoming more attractive for future development.
Additionally, we will benefit from greater diversity, depth and breadth in our decision-making, enabling us to learn and implement improvements more rapidly and ensuring the highest possible quality of care.
We know that people are living longer, with more complex healthcare needs and with more interactions with multiple parts of the healthcare system. Having fragmented services can increase clinical risk and negatively impact on overall patient experience.
Another big advantage is scale. A larger organisation can provide services more efficiently and with greater resilience, offering a broader range of recruitment opportunities and becoming more attractive for future development.
Additionally, we will benefit from greater diversity, depth and breadth in our decision-making, enabling us to learn and implement improvements more rapidly and ensuring the highest possible quality of care.
What would happen if we stayed as we are?
We recognise that we need to change to meet the evolving needs of our population.
Doing so will ensure that we can meet those needs in the longer term and be sustainable clinically and financially.
Doing so will ensure that we can meet those needs in the longer term and be sustainable clinically and financially.
Is this a merger or a takeover?
We are making good progress on our integration programme to bring together community and hospital services across Bridgewater Community Healthcare and Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.
This change will help us to achieve our ambitions and deliver the greatest benefits for our patients and staff.
Our two Boards agreed to an options appraisal process to identify the best way forward.
After considering several possibilities, which included a merger, acquisitions, or a shared leadership model, a recommendation was taken to both trust boards in February 2025. It was unanimously agreed that the preferred way forward is for the acquisition of Bridgewater Community Healthcare by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.
Subject to all the required approvals, we are working towards becoming one single organisation in April 2026.
Our two organisations are stronger and better together, and we are in a unique position to bring about meaningful change – improving services and pathways for the benefit of our patients and communities.
This change will help us to achieve our ambitions and deliver the greatest benefits for our patients and staff.
Our two Boards agreed to an options appraisal process to identify the best way forward.
After considering several possibilities, which included a merger, acquisitions, or a shared leadership model, a recommendation was taken to both trust boards in February 2025. It was unanimously agreed that the preferred way forward is for the acquisition of Bridgewater Community Healthcare by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals.
Subject to all the required approvals, we are working towards becoming one single organisation in April 2026.
Our two organisations are stronger and better together, and we are in a unique position to bring about meaningful change – improving services and pathways for the benefit of our patients and communities.
How was the options appraisal recommendation decided?
To ensure a fair and thorough process, we set up an options appraisal panel made up of 10 executive and non-executive Board members to equally represent both organisations.
The panel considered detailed information and evidence, scoring each option against 19 criteria grouped into six key areas:
• Patient impact and benefits
• Patient care sustainability
• Workforce and culture
• Financial sustainability and value for money
• Strategic alignment
• Deliverability
The panel made a unanimous decision on the recommendation that was put forward to both trust boards.
The panel considered detailed information and evidence, scoring each option against 19 criteria grouped into six key areas:
• Patient impact and benefits
• Patient care sustainability
• Workforce and culture
• Financial sustainability and value for money
• Strategic alignment
• Deliverability
The panel made a unanimous decision on the recommendation that was put forward to both trust boards.
Will it be a new organisation with a new name?
During January and February 2025 we asked for views on the future name of our partnership.
We received 370 responses from staff, patients, carers and members of the public, community groups, and partner organisations. After careful consideration, taking all feedback into account, our boards agreed that our partnership name will be ‘North Cheshire and Mersey Healthcare Partnership’.
This will evolve into our future organisational name, when we plan to become ‘North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust’ and become one organisation and subject to approval as part of the NHS transaction required.
We plan for our dental service name to be ‘North West Community Dental Service’, which will make more sense for patients receiving dental care in Greater Manchester for example.
We received 370 responses from staff, patients, carers and members of the public, community groups, and partner organisations. After careful consideration, taking all feedback into account, our boards agreed that our partnership name will be ‘North Cheshire and Mersey Healthcare Partnership’.
This will evolve into our future organisational name, when we plan to become ‘North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust’ and become one organisation and subject to approval as part of the NHS transaction required.
We plan for our dental service name to be ‘North West Community Dental Service’, which will make more sense for patients receiving dental care in Greater Manchester for example.
Why is the dental service having a different name?
As a valued part of our organisation, we needed to find a special solution that works for our dental services.
While it wasn’t possible to come up with a suitable partnership name that would cover all geographical areas where we provide dental services, we have had discussions with senior dental colleagues and agreed to introduce a prominent service brand.
We plan for the service name to be ‘North West Community Dental Service’, which will make more sense for patients receiving dental care in Greater Manchester for example.
While it wasn’t possible to come up with a suitable partnership name that would cover all geographical areas where we provide dental services, we have had discussions with senior dental colleagues and agreed to introduce a prominent service brand.
We plan for the service name to be ‘North West Community Dental Service’, which will make more sense for patients receiving dental care in Greater Manchester for example.
When will things change?
Our joint chief executive, Nikhil Khashu, started in post on 1 November 2024, and we now have a shared executive team with several joint executive posts covering both organisations (medical director, chief operating officer, chief nurse and director of the delivery unit).
We are reviewing governance arrangements and plan to have these established in 2025.
Closer collaboration between our clinical and corporate teams is happening now, and we are already seeing benefit from it.
Any proposed service changes will involve staff, patients and the public as required, and we are committed to co-producing changes wherever possible.
We are reviewing governance arrangements and plan to have these established in 2025.
Closer collaboration between our clinical and corporate teams is happening now, and we are already seeing benefit from it.
Any proposed service changes will involve staff, patients and the public as required, and we are committed to co-producing changes wherever possible.
Will the legal entity of the organisation change when BCH and WHH join together?
For the foreseeable future both Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals and Bridgewater Community Healthcare will continue to operate as separate legal entities.
We are working towards becoming one single organisation in April 2026 via the acquisition of Bridgewater Community Healthcare by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals
We are working towards becoming one single organisation in April 2026 via the acquisition of Bridgewater Community Healthcare by Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals
What happens to my data?
Your data will continue to be stored securely and confidentially.
It can only be accessed by NHS staff where there is a strong, valid reason, such as ensuring you receive appropriate care.
Initially our organisations will maintain our separate data systems, but the intention is to integrate and consolidate these systems where appropriate over time. This will help clinicians access information from other services to provide the best possible care, whilst safeguarding your personal data.
It can only be accessed by NHS staff where there is a strong, valid reason, such as ensuring you receive appropriate care.
Initially our organisations will maintain our separate data systems, but the intention is to integrate and consolidate these systems where appropriate over time. This will help clinicians access information from other services to provide the best possible care, whilst safeguarding your personal data.