In 2008, Health Minister Lord Darzi published High Quality Care for All. This was the final report of the NHS Next Stage Review. He proposed that all providers of NHS care should produce annual quality accounts to provide the public with information on the quality of care they provide. Development of the detailed format and content of quality accounts is being facilitated by the Department of Health, and steered by stakeholders, including the regulators, National Health Service management, clinicians and patient groups. In preparation for quality accounts, NHS foundation trusts and NHS provider organisations in the East of England are acting as test cases and producing quality reports for 2008-09.

The Foundation Trust Network represents existing foundation trusts as well as acute and mental health trusts preparing for foundation status. It was established in June 2004 to represent the views of foundation trusts, to influence health policy and to share learning and good practice. The Network is hosted by the NHS Confederation.

The NHS Confederation represents more than 95% of the organisations that make up the NHS. Its members include the majority of NHS acute trusts, ambulance trusts, foundation trusts, mental health trusts, primary care trusts, independent providers of NHS services, special health authorities and strategic health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; and health and social service trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.

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