16 May 2003
This week, Health Secretary Alan Milburn announced that 29 of the 32 initial applicants would go forward to a second and final assessment that will be concluded by the autumn.
He insisted that he will favour applications that include proposals to help neighbouring hospitals raise their performance so that they also can become foundation trusts.
However, he warned, the short-listed trusts must maintain their three-star rating in this summer's performance review or their applications would be deferred.
Milburn said 12 of the shortlist were in the bottom 25% of the most deprived areas in the country. These include Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Trust and University Hospital Birmingham Trust.
Andrew Cash, chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: 'We feel there could be real benefits in the freedoms which help us to make sure our services meet local needs whilst working within the national framework and ethos of the health service.'
John Charlton, chair of the Birmingham trust, said: 'Birmingham is coming first for a change. I look forward to engaging with local people to make the health service more locally accountable.'
Karen Jennings, Unison's head of health, said the announcement was premature as the Bill to legalise foundation trusts had not been passed.
The Frimley Park, Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease and East Cheshire trusts failed to be included in the first wave of applicants for foundation status and vowed to reapply in the autumn.
The deferral of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Disease's application is understood to be related to criticisms in recent Commission for Health Improvement reports.
In March, Chi said the hospital must increase partnership working with the local health community, particularly on workforce planning, recruitment and capacity planning.
The Bath-based trust's chief executive, Nicola Carmichaels, said: 'This gives us time now when we can give our full attention to implementing action arising from our recent Chi review, to be in the best possible position to move ahead in the autumn with our foundation trust application.'
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