MP Backs Bid by Local Hospitals for Foundation Trust Status - Gordon Prentice

Gordon Prentice - Pendle's Campaigning Labour MP

MP Backs Bid by Local Hospitals for Foundation Trust Status

Written by Gordon Prentice

Tuesday, 07 October 2008 00:00

Pendle MP, Gordon Prentice, is backing moves by the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust to get Foundation status, allowing local people a say in how the local NHS is run.

Speaking from Westminster today, the MP said "The Government has made it very clear it wants all NHS Trusts to become Foundation Trusts "at the earliest opportunity".

The MP added: "Local people want a voice in their local NHS and this is the way to get involved."

The Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw, told the Pendle MP this week that the Government had decided to back the application by East Lancs Hospital NHS Trust for Foundation status. He said the application will now be considered for authorisation by Monitor (the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts) and Trust status could be given from 1 February 2009.

Local people can become members of a Foundation Trust and vote in elections to the Board of Governors - the supervisory body. They can also stand for election as a Governor. The Board of Governors appoints the Chair and non executive directors of the Board of Directors. Public members are also eligible to join the Board of Directors (which is responsible for operational matters).

Note to Editors: Monitor assesses whether NHS Trusts are fit to become NHS Foundation Trusts. The Monitor website states:

NHS foundation trusts are a fundamental part of the current NHS reform programme. They reflect the move from a centrally managed service towards one that is managed locally and so more responsive to patients.

NHS foundation trusts are:
a new type of NHS organisation, established as independent public benefit corporations;
free from central government control and from strategic health authority performance management;
providers of healthcare according to core NHS principles - free care, based on need and not ability to pay;
accountable to local people, who can become members and governors;
free to innovate for the benefit of their local community and patients;
able to decide for themselves what capital investment is needed in order to improve their services;
free to retain any surpluses they generate and to borrow in order to support this investment; and
authorised and monitored by Monitor - Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts

The first NHS foundation trusts were established in April 2004. To view a map of all the current NHS foundation trusts in England, click here.

Public Register - there are currently 107 NHS Foundation Trusts. You can find more information on all NHS Foundation Trusts on the Public Register.

Risk ratings - Monitor has adopted a risk-based approach to regulation. View the risk rating for each foundation trust and find out more about the ratings.

Last Updated ( Friday, 17 October 2008 17:03 )