Press release: NHS Confederation responds to Health Committee's report on foundations
07 May 2003
The NHS Confederation has today welcomed the Health Select Committee's report on Foundation Trusts. Dr Gill Morgan, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation stated: "We think the Committee's report is an important contribution to the debate over Foundation Trusts, particularly its recognition of the need to refocus attention on primary care and patients."
The Confederation believes that Foundations could be an important step towards a new relationship between central government and the NHS, with an increasing emphasis on accountability to local people, rather than to the centre. Dr Morgan said: "Let's not forget that NHS organisations have long called for greater freedom from Whitehall control to enable real innovation to benefit patients."
Dr Morgan commented: "The Committee shares our view that more seamless care for patients depends on closer partnerships across the NHS. We want to ensure safeguards are in place so that Foundation status strengthens links between hospitals and other NHS organisations - to ensure the additional freedoms benefit the whole health economy.
Dr Morgan added: "Foundations are a step in the right direction towards a more decentralised NHS. However the initial focus on Foundation hospitals must not detract from the Government's drive towards a primary care led NHS. We firmly agree with the Committee that support for Foundation hospitals needs to be accompanied by an equivalent investment and strengthening of Primary Care Trusts - as the purchasers of care for local communities.
"It is important to remember that Foundations are only one part of a wider reform agenda facing the NHS - they are no magic bullet. Policies such as a new system of financial flows, increased patient choice and a greater plurality of providers will all have a far greater impact on the NHS than Foundation Trusts and it is therefore vital that we don't lose sight of these other significant policy reforms."
Commenting on the Secretary of State's allocation of £200 million for trusts attaining two stars or less, Dr Morgan stated: "We welcome the funding for the NHS Improvement Programme. We believe that much more needs to be done to provide effective support to organisations that are struggling."
Notes for editors
- The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and local health boards in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
- The Confederation's recent report, 'Failure and Turnaround' which looked at turning around failing hospitals, particularly highlighted the need for earlier identification of struggling trusts, and a response that focuses on the provision of practical assistance rather than simply stricter performance management.
Contact details
- Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
Back to media centre
