Staff frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The Boards of both trusts agreed to merge following a period of collaboration. This decision was made to strengthen community services and improve care for patients.

For most staff, day-to-day work will remain the same. You will continue supporting patients in the community, clinics and inpatient units. Over time, there may be opportunities to share knowledge, skills and resources across the merged organisation.

Financial efficiency is important, but the main reason for merging is to improve patient care and strengthen community services. Savings are a benefit, but better care and resilience are our priorities.

We have created a single Board, resulting in a reduction in the number of roles at Executive and Non-Executive level. We are not expecting other job losses at the current time.

A larger organisation can offer more resilience, better recruitment, improved efficiency and a stronger voice for community services. It also creates more opportunities for staff development and innovation.

As a larger organisation, there will be more opportunities for career development and progression. New roles may emerge as services evolve and innovate.

No. Maintaining consistent, high-quality care remains our top priority. The merger will not reduce the level of service we provide.

No. Your base location will not change. Some roles may involve occasional travel for meetings or collaboration, but these will be infrequent and covered by expenses.

Culture remains a top priority. Both trusts share similar values and approaches. We’re working together to build a strong, inclusive culture for the new organisation, involving staff in shaping this.

Subject to NHS England approval, the merged trust will be called East of England Community Health and Care NHS Trust. This new organisation brings together expertise from both former trusts to provide high-quality community services across Norfolk, Waveney and Cambridgeshire.

The merger will not immediately reduce waiting times. However, bringing services together will give us opportunities to share best practice and learn from each other, which may help reduce waits over time while maintaining high-quality care.

We will make sure leaders are visible across all areas. Technology will help us connect with services and meet regularly, and leaders will spend time visiting sites and working with teams.

Contracts through commissioners such as councils or ICBs are geographically specific. Money allocated to services in one area will not be spent elsewhere, and this principle will continue after the merger.

We have no immediate plans to reduce the number of bases. In time, we may look at opportunities to share buildings to support closer working and improve efficiency.

Yes. Both organisations continue to exist and will continue to recognise the unions they do now.

Yes. You will continue to be employed by the same organisation and retain all your existing rights.

Yes. Valuing and supporting our people will remain a priority, and we aim to build on what we already offer.

We are taking a steady approach to change, working with teams and communities to get things right. Both trusts have experience managing change and will use that expertise to make this merger successful.

It will take time to understand what the merger means for individual services. We do not expect significant changes to clinical work. Where services overlap, we will look at how best to provide them collaboratively, involving teams in decisions.

We will continue to follow data protection rules. It is possible to share information across NHS organisations when it is in patients’ best interests. After the merger, sharing will be easier because we will be one organisation.

We are currently looking at how we can work better together across all areas of our services. We have already seen closer working in children’s services since April 2024, when we began sharing operational leadership for children and young people. This approach has shown clear benefits for the families we serve.

For most staff, no. For some roles that cover the whole organisation, travel may be required, similar to current arrangements. Business mileage will be paid as appropriate.

We do not anticipate relocating anyone outside their usual area unless they request it. The only additional mileage expected will be for occasional meetings with colleagues across the new organisation, which will be reimbursed as normal.

No. We do not know yet which ICB will be host for the new organisation.

Yes. Staff briefing sessions will continue to be recorded and available on the intranets of both trusts.

Yes. The merger will give us the chance to review and improve processes where it makes sense.