Health bosses have defended hospital merger plans, after MPs questioned the thinking behind the move in a damning report.

St George’s Hospital in Tooting has bid to merge with St Helier Hospital, after the organisation that runs the Sutton unit said it did not have the financial clout to achieve foundation status – which gives trusts greater independence – in its current form.

But last month MPs on the cross-party public accounts committee savaged nationwide progress on the issue – with chairman Margaret Hodge describing London trusts as being in a “shocking state”.

Its report questioned the thinking behind mergers carried out to earn foundation status.

It stated: “It is not a convincing solution that combining trusts which are already challenged or unviable will somehow create a more sustainable successor, without some form of further intervention.”

But Epsom and St Helier Trust chief executive Matthew Hopkins said the criteria for a bid to be accepted would protect standards for patients and ensure long-term viability.

Mr Hopkins said: “The criteria, which have been developed in association with patient and public representatives, also include how the combined hospitals will improve quality and efficiency to help balance their books and ensure their services are financially viable in the long term.”

A transition board at St Helier is analysing the St George’s bid and is set to make its recommendation in the middle of next month.

The Government wants all hospital trusts to achieve foundation status by 2014.

MPs also said “reconfiguration” aimed at achieving the status would reduce services at some hospitals.

A trust spokesman said that it was not possible to make cast-iron guarantees about the long-term future of services at any hospital – but added a merger would not make those at St Helier more vulnerable than they are at present.

Mr Hopkins said: “St George’s will be required to run all of the services St Helier currently provides, including A&E and maternity.”

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