Foundation trust

Why do we want to become 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. This means that as we plan to develop hospital and community services we will need to involve our public, patients and staff in the decision making process.

In becoming a foundation trust St George's Healthcare will become a membership organisation. To date we have recruited nearly 4,500 public and patient members who, along with 7,000 staff members, will elect a council of governors. The council of governors will advise St George's board of directors on how the trust should provide and improve services and help ensure that it stays true to the core NHS values and principles.

Our membership will be very important to us. Members can make a real difference by helping us make the right decisions on our plans and developments and they can help develop services that benefit our patients and the local community.

Apart from increased local involvement foundation trusts also have greater control over their finances. For St George's Healthcare this will mean more freedom to decide on how to invest in services that will best meet the needs of its patients and public.

A public consultation took place from 25th May to 17th August 2010 and you can download the results of the consultation here.

Video

Be part of our future

This film featuring real members of staff puts the focus on our plans to become a foundation trust and why we want you to become a member.

What does it mean to be a member?

Foundation trusts are governed by a council of governors, who are elected from and by their membership.

By becoming a member of the foundation trust you will be in a position to help make decisions that will impact on the development of the trust's services. Members will also be entitled to elect and stand for election to the council of governors, and help to shape the long-term future of the trust.

Membership is free and as a member you can:

• Be consulted on plans for future developments to meet the needs of the community
• Elect representatives to serve on the council of governors
• Stand for election to the council of governors
• Help improve services within the hospital and the local health community
• Support research to improve outcomes
• Help to raise funds to improve services in the hospital and the community
• Volunteer in a variety of roles and settings
• Attend health information events

You can view our membership application form or apply online.

Application process

There is a three-stage process which St George's Healthcare must go through to reach foundation trust status. The largest section of this is to gain the support of our patients, staff and community. We must also gain the backing of NHS London, the Strategic Health authority, for our application.

St George's Healthcare must successfully complete a detailed application process, one which will carefully examine key elements of our work including quality of care and finances. Therefore in achieving foundation trust status St George's Healthcare will also become stronger as an organisation.

Timelines for the trust’s application are outlined in the tripartite formal agreement (TFA) The TFA confirms the commitments being made by St George’s Healthcare, NHS London and the Department of Health (DH) that will enable achievement of FT status before April 2014.

Specifically the TFA confirms the date when St George’s Healthcare will submit its “FT ready” application to DH to begin their formal assessment towards achievement of FT status.

The objective of the TFA is to identify the key strategic and operational issues facing the trust and the actions required at local, regional and national level to address these. It also includes the key milestones that will need to be achieved to enable the FT application to be submitted.

Download the TFA

While our timeline for becoming a FT may have changed our commitment to engage with existing members and recruit new ones continues.

 

 

 

 

Copyright ©2012 St George's Healthcare NHS Trust.