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Overview
Benefits
Find out more
Overview
Foundation Trusts have more freedom from central government control, though they remain fully part of the NHS. They are duty-bound to deliver free care, based on need, not ability to pay, but they are more accountable to the local community. This is because local people and staff can become members of the Trust and elect representatives to serve on a Council of Governors or even stand for election as Governors themselves.
Foundation Trusts are:
- Part of the NHS and subject to NHS standards, performance ratings and inspections. They must also work in partnership with other NHS organisations and co-operate with local partners.
- Accountable to Monitor (the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts), who oversees and monitors them against their terms of authorisation and has powers to intervene.
The first Foundation Trusts were authorised in 2004 and ambulance trusts were allowed to start the application process in April 2009. Any NHS Trust which is applying to become a Foundation Trust must consult the public about its plans. The Trust held its formal consultation from September to December 2009 the outcome of which can be found in our Consultation Report Summary.
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Benefits
Achieving Foundation Trust status will give us:
- Greater freedom to determine our own future.
- More flexibility to tailor services to the particular needs of the communities we serve.
- New powers to enter into legal and financial agreements with partner healthcare organisations, enabling us to work more effectively together.
- New financial freedoms, allowing us to invest surplus funds where they are most needed.
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Find out more
To find out more about Foundation Trusts you can visit our Find Out More section by clicking here or following the link at the top right of this page.
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