multi-million pound cost-saving plans to merge management at four primary care trusts in east London have been revealed.

Redundancies are expected as health chiefs move to integrate the managerial structure of NHS Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge, Havering and Waltham Forest. NHS Barking & Dagenham needs to halve its �6million budget as part of the plans. The overhaul is set to save �1.9million out of �2.8million which needs to be found.

Darren Rodwell, a non-executive director at NHS Barking & Dagenham, criticised the move: “The biggest fear is the loss of control locally, the loss of support for GPs and accountability as well. Even though the government said they were not going to touch the NHS, they’ve made it impossible for PCTs to survive unless they merge.”

Four chief executives, including Stephen Langford at NHS Barking & Dagenham, face redundancies as do non-executive directors including Mr Rodwell. Others jobs could be axed.

An NHS Barking & Dagenham spokeswoman said: “The board is considering this proposal so it can deliver the required cost savings and release resources to assist the development of GP commissioning.”