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What
is an NHS Foundation Trust?
In December 2003 the Health and Social Care (Community Health
and Standards) Act was passed, allowing the creation of the
first NHS Foundation Trusts. NHS Foundation Trusts are public
benefit corporations that are no longer subject to direction
from the Secretary of State for Health. Instead, NHS Foundation
Trusts are accountable to the local community for the delivery
of services, and Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS
Foundation Trusts. Monitor ensures FTs are well managed and
financially strong so that they can deliver excellent healthcare
for patients.
Are NHS Foundation Trusts still part of the NHS?
NHS Foundation Trusts are still NHS organisations and will
always stand by the principles that underpins the NHS, that
healthcare is provided free at the point of delivery. NHS
Foundation Trusts continue to work with national frameworks
and to national standards, though with greater local autonomy
for services and service development.
What is different about being an NHS Foundation Trust?
Each Foundation has a membership from its local community
who through a Governors Council influence the development
of the organisation and ensures the strategy of the NHS Foundation
Trust best suits the needs of local people.
Local people, patients and staff can become members of their
local NHS Foundation Trust and elect their representatives
to the Governors Council. Organisations such as Primary Care
Trusts or local authorities also have representatives on the
Governors Council but the majority of governors are elected
from local people or staff.
What is the Governors Council?
Governors are elected by staff and the public or will be nominated
by organisations that work with the Trust (for example, the
Primary Care Trusts).
Governors will attend meetings of the Governors Council, representing
their local communities, and working together to advise and
influence how the Trust will develop as an NHS Foundation
Trust to meet the needs of local people in the future. This
will mean discussing things like major new service developments,
the annual report and accounts, and how members are recruited
and kept informed.
If you are interested in finding out more about becoming a
governor then please contact the Trust’s NHS Foundation
Trust office.
Why become a member?
It’s a way of getting involved, finding out more about
what goes on at the hospital and helping to shape service
plans for the future. You can have as little or as much involvement
as you wish. As a member you will receive newsletters and
be invited to events. You will be able to vote for your representative
to sit on the Governors Council.
You could decide to put yourself forward for election and
become a Governor.
How do I become a member?
Print off and fill in the following membership
form.
Then return it to:
Ann Filby, Foundation & Communications Manager
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trust Office
Lowestoft Road
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
Norfolk
NR31 6LA
Alternatively if you wish to complete an on-line application
please save the attached membership
form to your computer, complete and return to
foundationtrust@jpaget.nhs.uk.
Contact us?
If you wish to receive more information about any aspects
of being a Foundation Trust then please e-mail foundationtrust@jpaget.nhs.uk
or telephone 01493 452162.
More Information
More information about Foundation Trusts can be found at the
following links:
Monitor:
The Independent Regulator for Foundation Trusts
A
Short Guide to NHS Foundation Trusts (PDF file)
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