HOSPITAL trusts in Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich are set to merge into one single organisation.

Trust boards for Bromley Hospitals, Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Queen Mary’s Sidcup will hold meetings next week to discuss the proposed merger.

All three will become a one trust from April next year, subject to board approval and consultation with staff and other groups including MPs, councils and primary care trusts.

But it is understood the public will not be consulted.

The combined trust would have an annual income of £400m - almost equalling that of south east London's major health organisation, King’s College Hospital.

According to a report into the merger, the cash will help the organisation "define itself as a significant and robust trust".

Merging the trusts would also bring an end to temporary staffing appointments, with more than half of Bromley Hospitals and Queen Mary’s boards currently holding either acting or interim positions.

The report that will go before the Bromley trust board on Tuesday (November 4) says: “All three hospitals have been facing significant and increasing uncertainty for many months.

"The fragility of the three current organisations is leading to increasing concerns about maintaining safe and viable services.

"The people of south east London can look forward to a hospital trust in which they can take renewed pride, and which will inspire their loyalty and trust."

Clinical services will not be affected and the merging of management teams will not include University Hospital Lewisham.

Queen Mary’s trust board will meet on Wednesday (Nov 5) and Queen Elizabeth’s the following day (Nov 6).