Two Birmingham hospital trusts to merge

The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust will merge with the University Hospitals of Birmingham Trust Credit: ITV News Central

Two of the Midlands' biggest hospital trusts will merge this Sunday. The Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust will become a part of the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB.)

UHB, which runs the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Selly Oak has been overseeing Heart of England since October 2015, after a series of clinical and financial problems. The boss of the new combined Trust says it's good news for patients and staff.

It will be one of the largest trusts in the country, employing more than 20,000 staff.

The Heart of England title will disappear, but its hospitals: Heartlands, Good Hope, Solihull, and the Birmingham Chest Clinic will keep their names. The QE and other clinics across the city will stay under the UHB banner.

What does it mean for the Midlands? Dame Julie Moore, who will head the trust has spoken to ITV Central about the implications and issues facing the new trust.