Hospital trusts apply for foundation status

A batch of 12 NHS hospital trusts have applied for foundation status, supported by the health minister.

In addition, eight trusts have been authorised for foundation status by Monitor, the regulator, including Sheffield Children’s Hospital, Salford Royal Hospital and Northumbria Healthcare.

Among the trusts applying for foundation status are Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Milton Keynes General and the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital.

Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, remarked: “I’m delighted that eight more trusts have achieved foundation status and I have recommended twelve more trusts for consideration by Monitor for authorisation.”

“Foundation trusts enjoy greater freedom from day-to-day central controls and the benefits this brings, such as the ability to innovate new ways of delivering services for patients,” she added.

Ms Hewitt concluded: “Local communities in the areas served by these newly authorised trusts will be able to have a greater say in how their local hospital
services are delivered.”

Foundation trust hospitals were devised to devolve power away from the government and into the hands of individual hospitals.

The Conservative Party has said it wishes to speed up the process of NHS trusts becoming foundation trusts.

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