The Commerce Commission has received an application from Southern Cross Health Trust and from Aorangi Hospital Limited seeking clearance to merge their respective private hospital operations in Palmerston North.

Southern Cross operates a number of private surgical facilities throughout the country including a hospital in Palmerston North. The Southern Cross hospital in Palmerston North has two operating theatres and 26 in-patient beds and provides secondary elective surgical services to both day patients and in-patients.

AorangiHospital is privately owned and operated by a group of medical specialists in Palmerston North with four operating theatres and 32 in-patient beds as well as a number of consulting rooms.

In considering the application, the Commission's role is to determine whether the acquisition has the effect of substantially lessening competition in a market.

A public version of the application will shortly be available on the Commission's website www.comcom.govt.nz under the Clearances Register.