Most acute NHS trusts independent from government
pharmafile | January 5, 2009 | News story | |Â Â NHSÂ
More than half of all acute NHS trusts have now been awarded foundation status, making them free to operate outside government control.
This month Central Manchester University Hospitals will become the 113th foundation trust – for the first time making the number of independents greater than those still under central governance.
Ultimately the government wants all 225 trusts to achieve the same standing, and health minister Ben Bradshaw congratulated the Central Manchester University Hospitals, saying it was a significant milestone in NHS history.
He added: "We want as many acute and mental health trusts as possible to achieve foundation status over the next few years, benefiting from the greater freedom it brings, and delivering innovative new services for patients locally."
The first foundation trusts were established in April 2004, and they exist free from Department of Health and strategic health authority performance management. However, they continue to follow the core NHS principles of providing free care, based on need and not ability to pay.
Trusts seeking independence apply to Monitor, an NHS regulator, which decides whether or not they are fit to operate alone.
Executive chairman of the regulator Dr William Moyes said: "We're now at the tipping point – halfway towards the goal of an all-foundation trust sector. It's an important milestone, although one which has taken longer to arrive at than we had hoped."
He believes all trusts could potentially achieve foundation status within the next three years if Monitor continues to work at its same pace, provided the organisations that apply to perform adequately.
He added: "Now more than ever – with increased pressure on the NHS to deliver improved quality, safety and patient experience while driving down inefficiency – the capabilities required to get through our tough assessment process and operate effectively as a foundation trust are essential. That's why I want to see progress accelerate in the year ahead, with more strong applicants coming forward for authorisation."
Foundation trusts are accountable to local people, who can become members and governors, and can work for the benefit of their local community and patients.
The trusts themselves decide what capital investment is needed in order to improve their services, and are free to retain any surplus they generate and to borrow in order to support this investment.
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