Health workers fear plans to merge the NHS trust that runs Mount Vernon and Watford hospitals with that covering St Albans and Hemel Hempstead hospitals will cost jobs.

Directors of both trusts announced plans to explore a merger on Thursday last week.

The hospital bosses hope the move will save about £1 million in management and administration costs, leaving more money for frontline medical services.

But the public service union Unison gave the proposal a cautious response.

Lorna Halsey, branch secretary at Mount Vernon in Northwood, said: "We know such a merger would mean one chief executive and one board of directors, but we still do not know what is happening underneath all that.

"There is still the possibility that a lot of staff will lose jobs."

It is estimated that up to 40 jobs, mainly in administration and management, would be lost as a result of the merger.

The plans have increased growing uncertainty among staff, who are still waiting to find out which services will be cut following a period of consultation by West Hertfordshire and Hillingdon health authorities.

Mount Vernon will lose services, but exactly what happens will be decided at the end of September.

A 40,000-signature petition opposing any cuts to health services was presented to West Herts Health Authority by the pressure group Watford Against Threats to Close Hospitals (Watch) last week.

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