COLCHESTER General Hospital has become "clinically and financially unsustainable" and is merging with its Ipswich counterpart.

The trust which runs the Turner Road hospital has agreed to work closely with Ipswich Hospital bosses because it is "the only way of securing services for patients long into the future".

The drastic move comes as NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) agreed services at Colchester General Hospital, which has been in special measures for more than two years, are not good enough.

Prof Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals even poured scorn on the hospital's board, saying he has "no confidence in the ability of the trust's current board to address the issues".

The merger means patients could travel to Ipswich for certain treatments, but hospital bosses have said it is "far too early to say" what changes patients will see.

Prof Sir Mike, said: "We have consistently found poor and unsafe practices which place patients at risk of harm at this trust.

"There have not been enough signs of improvement for me to recommend a further extension to Special Measures.

"I do not have confidence in the ability of the trust's current board to address the issues I have highlighted, though I do recognise that the chief executive has only been in post a short time.

"I believe a more radical solution is required to ensure the delivery of safe care at Colchester."

He added: "I consider that the arrangements NHS Improvement has agreed with Ipswich offer a better route to bring about the improvements that patients urgently need to see at Colchester."

Jim Mackey, Chief Executive of NHS Improvement added: "It was clear that significant improvement was required in Colchester when the trust was placed in special measures.

"Under the current leadership, and with the support of its staff, the trust has made many improvements for its patients and continues to focus on this.

"However, we are all agreed that long term and sustainable improvement can only be assured if the trust works with another organisation.

"We fully support the partnership with Ipswich hospital and will support both organisations in making this a success."

Frank Sims, Colchester General Hospital chairman, admitted the hospital board had agreed the organisation is "not clinically and financially sustainable in its current form".

He added: "I’m pleased that NHS Improvement and the CQC acknowledge that we have made improvements.

"We have highly professional and dedicated staff who can be proud of what they have achieved, often in extremely challenging circumstances.

"I want to thank them for their magnificent service and I know a real determination to provide good care for local patients will continue to be uppermost in their minds.

"Improving care and quality to ensure we provide outstanding care, consistently for all patients at all times, will continue to be at the heart of everything we do."