Surrey hospitals could merge more services
Two hospitals in Surrey are considering merging more services to cut costs.
Frimley Park Hospital and Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford already work together in areas including pathology and cancer services.
The trusts have now announced plans "looking at the viability of sharing some support functions", in particular procurement and IT.
A joint strategic partnership board has been set up to look in more detail at options for closer working, they said.
In a joint statement, the hospitals said they had been exploring how they could build on their "existing good relationship and work more closely together".
"This is exactly what two responsible organisations should be doing in the current economic climate and in light of the NHS reforms, which place even more emphasis on quality, innovation, performance and productivity," the statement said.