WIREDGOV

Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts has today confirmed the following foundation trusts will be authorised from 1 December 2008:

• Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (formerly North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust);
• Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (formerly Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust); and
• Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust

The announcement means there are now 112 NHS foundation trusts in total, of which 31 are mental health NHS foundation trusts.

Having achieved NHS foundation trust status these trusts will benefit from a variety of new freedoms:

• they are free from central government control and are able to decide how to improve their services;
• they can retain any surpluses they generate to invest in new services, and can borrow money to support these investments; and
• they are accountable to their local communities; local people can become members and governors.

These freedoms mean NHS foundation trusts can better shape their healthcare services around local needs and priorities and the requirements of their primary care trusts.



Notes to editors

1. Facts and figures about NHS foundation trusts:

• NHS foundation trusts have now recruited over 1.2 million members
• NHS foundation trusts now employ over 360,000 staff
• 48% of acute trusts are now NHS foundation trusts
• 54% of mental health trusts are now NHS foundation trusts
• The first wave of acute NHS foundation trusts were authorised by Monitor on 1 April 2004
• The first wave of mental health NHS foundation trusts were authorised on 1 May 2006

2. For media enquiries please contact Anna Jefferson on 020 7340 2442 or Jemma Roche on 020 7340 2477.

3. Monitor authorises and regulates NHS foundation trusts ensuring they are well-managed and financially viable in order to deliver high quality healthcare for patients.

4. Monitor was established in January 2004. It is independent of government and accountable to Parliament. Monitor’s functions and powers are set out in the National Health Service Act 2006.