What is an NHS Foundation Trust?

NHS Foundation Trusts are a new type of organisation, created under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. As a Foundation Trust we are still part of the NHS and continue to follow the principles and standards. The main difference is that as a Foundation Trust we are run locally and are therefore able to work with local people to develop services in a way that meets the needs of the local community.

Foundation Trusts:

we provide NHS services to NHS patients in accordance with the core principles of the NHS - care that is free and based on need

we are free from central government control and Strategic Health Authority performance management

we are authorised and monitored by an independent regulator known as Monitor

 we can borrow money within limits set by Monitor, retain surpluses and decide on service development for our local populations

 we are accountable to local people, our governors who are elected by members

 We are required to lay our annual reports and accounts before Parliament each year.

The Trust is responsible for selecting its own Directors to mange and oversee the organisation.

To register as a member, all you need to do is:

Complete the online application form

or

Call our Foundation Trust Office on 0121 627 2695

If you have any queries or comments, please email us at foundation@bwhct.nhs.uk

You can find out more information about NHS Foundation Trusts;

Short Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts           

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Secondarycare/NHSfoundationtrust/DH_072543

www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/

This page was last modified on Thu Feb 17 2011