"I AM developing a close relationship with the A12," said Nick Hulme ruefully. “We are almost inseparable."

That relationship is set to get a lot more familiar in the forthcoming months and possibly years.

Mr Hulme has just taken over as chief executive of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust.

He is also the chief executive of Ipswich Hospital with which Colchester has now become a partner.

Colchester Hospital Trust's problems over the past two and a half years have been well documented.

Last month, it was declared "clinically and financially unsustainable". It was the final nail in the coffin in the trust as we knew it.

The dawn of a new era has now begun with Colchester being taken under the wing of Ipswich Hospital, a hospital which was struggling but which is now successful.

The principle is that experience can help to turn Colchester's fortunes around.

But at what cost?

Will Colchester be the poor relation to its Suffolk cousin?

"I can understand that concern," said Mr Hulme, "but it is not justified.

"I am acutely aware that although Ipswich Hospital is doing well now it has worked hard over the past three years to deliver success."

Among the areas it has improved is its accident and emergency waiting times.

Ipswich Hospital is one of the few in the country to have met the Government's target of having 95 per cent of patients seen within four hours.

It was ranked as the sixth best in the country - when Colchester General Hospital was ranked as the second worst.

So how did it do it?

"It is seen from the outside as an A and E issue but it is not.

"It is a whole hospital and whole system issue.

"We need social services, primary care and commissioners to all play their part to ensure the flow of patients.

"I think the A and E target is the best barometer but it is only when everyone works together you can get to the 95 per cent target."

That also involves freeing up beds in wards ensuring patients are treated promptly and discharged accordingly.

However, Mr Hulme is keen to stress the issue is not one of enforcing Ipswich practices wholesale on to Colchester.

"It is about two organisations coming together, taking the best of both and reconfiguring it accordingly."

So, to be blunt, does that mean moving services?

"We are looking at opportunities to reconfigure services between the two sites and hope to drive up quality," said Mr Hulme.

"We don't have enough staff to provide a whole portfolio of services on both sites but if you have more specialist sites you get better clinical outcomes.

"I can't envisage a time when there won't be an A and E or maternity services in Colchester.

"Mothers do not want to be giving birth on the A12."

However, other services might move, although Mr Hulme is clear this will be for clinical reasons, rather than financial ones.

That might include cancer treatments.

Colchester General Hospital has one of the best equipped radiotherapy departments in Europe but Ipswich Hospital has this week opened a new cancer centre.

"It is too early to say what will happened precisely. We are a long way from making these decisions.

"Cancer is becoming a specialised service and there is a good clinical argument for centralised cancer services.

"Colchester, for example, has excellence in urology cancer surgery so I can see a situation where patients move from Ipswich to Colchester for that.

"There could be other services provided in Ipswich.

"We will only move services if it is right for the patients, if there is a good clinical argument.

"That is, however, not an issue of what is more convenient."

Mr Hulme is optimistic about the mutual benefits of the merger.

"We are looking at a combined population of more than 700,000 people. Whereas in the past, there has been silo working, there are now some real opportunities."

Mr Hulme said he will spend the majority of his time based in Colchester.

"We have an established leadership team at Ipswich Hospital and I am confident I can leave the day to day running of the hospital to them.

"I anticipate I will be there one day a week and four in Colchester."

Mr Hulme, who lives in Framlingham in Suffolk, added: "I am developing a close relationship with the A12. We are almost inseparable."