04 August 2006
More than a quarter of acute NHS trusts now have greater freedom from Whitehall control, following the authorisation of eight new foundation trusts this week.
William Moyes, chair of Monitor, the foundation trust regulator, awarded foundation status to the trusts on August 1, including Luton and Dunstable Hospital and Salford Royal.
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt announced her department had approved a further 12 applicants, whose suitability will be assessed by Monitor over the next year.
'Both of today's announcements indicate the continued progress of the foundation trust policy,' Moyes said. Around 26% of acute trusts are now foundations and together with three mental health FTs they have a combined annual income of £9.48bn.
Sue Slipman, director of the Foundation Trust Network, said the foundation movement was approaching the 'critical mass' needed to lead NHS reform.
But she added: 'The Department of Health's framework for provider development — due to be published this autumn — will be crucial in ensuring trusts have clear plans in place to achieve the standards required for FT authorisation.'
Two trusts had their applications deferred — Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals and Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare trusts — while five were postponed.
Chelsea and Westminster said there were concerns over its financial viability in the next two years. Chief executive Heather Lawrence said: 'It is clearly disappointing, but it is important to stress that our application has been deferred for a short period of time.'
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