PLANS have been unveiled to merge the area's two main NHS trusts.

The proposal to combine the Preston Acute Hospitals and Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trusts into the Central Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust was announced last week ahead of a period of public consultation which began on Monday (December 17).

Supporters say the joint trust would have a patient base of 350,000 giving it more clout to attract major government funding for specialist treatment. It would also attract a high calibre of lecturers to teach students coming from the University of Manchester which has agreed in principle to send its medical students to the area.

Tony Curtis, project director for the two trusts, said the proposed merger was part of a trend of upsizing currently sweeping through the NHS - the trusts in Morecambe Bay merged into one supertrust last year, and the trusts in Oldham, Bury, Rochdale and Manchester are currently considering joining forces.

"I believe we can improve patient care as a result of a merger," he said.

"Medical services are becoming more and more specialised therefore you need that critical mass of patients to be available for those services. Chorley and Preston could not attempt to provide that full range of specialised services on their own - they have to get together."

A series of public meetings will be held to obtain the views of the public, MPs and organisations. The consultation period will end on March 10, 2002.

Mr Curtis said if the merger went ahead it would not affect the plans for Sharoe Green Hospital which is scheduled to close by the end of 2003.