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Foundation trust
Frequently Asked Questions
About foundation trust status
- What is a foundation trust?
- What makes foundation trusts different from other NHS trusts?
- What does Monitor do?
- Does a foundation trust remain part of the NHS?
- Can foundation trust status be taken away?
Membership and council of governors
- What does membership mean?
- What is the role of the council of governors?
- How many governors will there be and how long is a term of office?
About foundation trust status
What is a foundation trust?
Foundation trusts are a new type of NHS trust set up in a way that makes them answerable to their local community.
As a foundation trust, St George’s Healthcare will remain firmly within the NHS but we will have greater accountability and be more responsive to our patients, the local community and our members of staff. These groups will have a greater say in how we develop our services and improve the care we provide to our patients.
Foundation trusts also have greater freedom over how they manage their finances, which will mean more freedom to decide on how to invest in services that will best meet the needs of its patients and public.
What makes foundation trusts different from NHS trusts?
- Freedom to decide locally how to provide and improve services
- Accountable to local people, who can become members and seek election to the council of governors
- Authorised and monitored by Monitor - Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts
What does Monitor do?
Monitor is the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts. Monitor is independent of central government and directly accountable to parliament.
There are three main strands to their work:
- Determining whether NHS trusts are ready to become NHS foundation trusts
- Ensuring that NHS foundation trusts comply with the conditions they signed up to, that they are well-led and financially robust
- Supporting NHS foundation trust development.
For more information please visit www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk
Does a foundation trust remain part of the NHS?
Yes. It is important to remember:
- Foundation trusts are part of the NHS
- NHS care is still free at foundation trust hospitals
- Foundation trusts have to meet the same quality standards as the rest of the NHS
- Members of staff continue to be part of the NHS workforce.
Can foundation trust status be taken away?
It is a possibility but has yet to happen:
- Monitor can consider de-authorising a NHS foundation trust which is seriously failing to comply with its terms of authorisation or any requirement(s) imposed on it under any enactment
- The Secretary of State for Health may write to Monitor requesting that Monitor consider the de-authorisation of an NHS foundation trust.
In both cases, the de-authorisation decision must be based on guidance published by Monitor, and the revised Act requires Monitor to consult on this guidance before publishing. The consultation closed on Wednesday 26th May 2010.
Membership and council of governors
What does membership mean?
As a foundation trust St George's Healthcare will become a membership organisation with three main types of members; public, patient and staff. The membership will elect a council of governors that advises St George's Healthcare's board of directors on how the trust should provide and improve services. Members will be in a position to help make decisions that will impact on the development of the trust's services.
The purpose of membership is to have your say in how the trust provides and improves services.More detailed information about membership
What is the role of the council of governors?
Foundation trusts are governed by a council of governors, who are elected from and by their membership. St George’s Healthcare currently only has a board of directors. Once St George’s Healthcare has foundation trust status members will elect and appoint a council of governors to represent the views of our members.
How many governors will there be and how long is a term of office?
Governors will be elected by their respective constituencies. There will be 33 governors with the elected governors in a majority (24) to those nominated (9).
Governors will generally hold office for a period of two or three years after which they will be eligible for re-election or re-appointment. Governors can serve for a maximum of nine years.
To ensure that all governors do not come up for re-election at the same time, half will be appointed for their full term and the rest for an initial period of 18 months. Those with the highest number of votes will be appointed for three years and the rest will be eligible to stand for re-election after an initial period of 18 months.
More detailed information about council of governors