The trusts, which serve approximately 800,000 people across North Kent and Medway and employ around 10,500 staff, will establish a shared board, starting with the appointment of a group chief executive and group chair.

They will remain independent trusts with senior local leadership at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford and Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham.

The decision to form a group followed an independent review, commissioned by NHS Kent and Medway ICB, which identified significant opportunities to improve patient care and strengthen services by collaborating more closely, while ruling out a merger.

Jonathan Wade, chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and interim chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Dartford and Medway are natural partners. Both organisations have great strengths and expertise and we already work together in some clinical and support services.

‘By working together as a group, we can better learn from each other, build on what we each do well and drive innovation that improves patient care and strengthens our services for the future.

‘We are at the start of a journey that will take time with many steps along the way. For our staff and patients, nothing changes now in day-to-day services. We are committed to listening to our staff, patients and partners, and learning from experience elsewhere, so that we take the right decisions for our local communities.'