| Newbury Primary Care Trust is to be merged with its counterparts in Reading and Wokingham in a bid to save cash. NHS managers are hoping to save 15% off administration costs by merging the three into a single NHS body to look after the western half of Berkshire. As we reported recently, the Thames Valley is under pressure to find £50m of savings after rapid population growth in Milton Keynes caused an overspend.
The move comes after it emerged that the Charles Clore cancer treatment facility in Newtown Road is to close. A cross-party committee at West Berkshire Council has vowed to fight the closure, and intends to complain to the Government – which today announced that extra spending on cancer was reaching the places where it was needed most. A land sale at the Newtown Road site is expected if the closure goes ahead.
Health Scrutiny Panel Chairman, Cllr Tony Linden said: "It is my belief that local support for this highly valued Unit is considerable, and that the concerns of patients, their friends and relatives deserve a wider hearing. In line with that we will be holding a public meeting as soon as is possible. Details will be announced as soon as they are finalised." | 
