THE bosses of Chase Farm and Barnet General hospitals have promised that casualty units will remain on both sites if the two management boards merge.

The pledge came as the NHS Trusts which run the hospitals publicly announced they want to amalgamate to swap information and share some clinical facilities.

The Independent revealed the merger plan exclusively in June but it was formally confirmed last Tuesday in a joint statement between Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust and Wellhouse NHS Trust, which runs Barnet General.

The Trusts said that no details about which services would be kept or axed have been worked out but they have highlighted 'key principles' such as the retention of separate accident and emergency units.

Acute inpatient care for the seriously ill is also identified as a service which both hospitals should retain.

But some specialist services could be centralised at a single site.

Wellhouse NHS Trust chairman David Phillips said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to develop a strong management base for our hospitals which ensure that they move forward together and shape their services to the maximum benefit of the local communities they serve."

As well as the Chase Farm and Barnet General, Cheshunt Community Hospital, in High Street, Cheshunt could be affected.

Patients' watchdog group the Enfield Community Health Council (CHC) will investigate the proposed merger and send its views to Health Secretary Frank Dobson, who must make the final decision.

CHC chief officer Sue Cripps said: "We are initially finding out why there has to be a merger, and if so, why with Wellhouse? It's too early for us to make a comment"

A three-month public consultation will take place in the autumn during which Mr Dobson will consider comments made by patients and local people.

If he gives the green light to the merger, the new board will be formally set up in April 1999.

In the weeks between the approval from Mr Dobson and the setting up of the board a 'shadow board' will operate so the committee members can get used to their new roles.

Currently, each Trust has five non-executive directors, five directors, a chief executive and a chairman.

If the merger goes ahead, half of those will lose their jobs on the board, but a spokesman for Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust refused to say who was likely to go.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.