LIVERPOOL’s two biggest hospitals could merge in a bid to save £100m.

Aintree Hospital has proposed a merger with the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals.

The two trusts started sharing a limited number of services in 2010, and bosses at Aintree now believe it is sensible to talk about a merger.

The two hospital trusts have a combined annual turnover of £668m and between them employ around 10,000 staff.

A senior source said officials at Aintree have calculated that the move could save around £100m, through shared services and leaderships..

But hospital chiefs at the Royal have given the proposal a lukewarm reception, and said they are focused on delivering the new £451m hospital.

Catherine Beardshaw, chief executive of Aintree, said: “The key aims would be to deliver the best possible care for all our patients and ensure the sustainability of our services from both a capital and revenue expenditure perspective, in what will become an increasingly challenging environment.

“The preference of the Aintree board is to consider a merger between the two trusts in the belief that one leadership team could develop the patient centred, integrated services our local people need and our commissioners require.”

She said no formal proposals have been drawn up yet.

“When formal proposals are developed then everyone involved – our patients, staff and stakeholders – will have the chance to give their views.”

The two hospital trusts already operate a joint vascular surgery service and are working together on a joint pathology service.