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About us
Foundation Trust
St George's Healthcare NHS Trust is applying for NHS Foundation Trust status. As an NHS Foundation Trust, St George's will remain firmly within the NHS but we will have greater accountability to, and be more responsive to, our patients and local communities.
There are many benefits in becoming a Foundation Trust:
- We will have greater financial freedom to develop facilities and services that are best suited to our patients
- We will have increased freedom to be innovative in how we deliver our services in order to improve the quality of patient care and patient experience
- Our staff, patients and the local population, through a membership council of governors, will have a greater say in the way the organisation operates and the priorities which it sets.
Why do we need to change?
The Government is committed to the creation of a patient-led NHS and wants an all Foundation Trust model for the NHS as soon as possible.
Foundation Trust status will allow more freedom for St George's to manage its services for the benefit of our patients and to re-invest surpluses in developing and improving those services.
Direct elections by staff and local people of Foundation Trust governors will enable St George's to be better focused on meeting the needs of its local community.
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.
As a member you will:
- Be consulted on plans for future developments
- Be able to elect representatives to serve on the council of governors
- Be able to stand for election to the council of governors
Application process
There is a three-stage process which St George's must go through to reach Foundation Trust status. The largest section of this, taking place during 2010, 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.
There are reviews and checks which must happen to confirm that we are a well-governed and well-managed organisation, that we are financially stable, and that we meet targets and achieve expected outcomes for our patients.
A 12-week public consultation on the proposed constitution will take place early summer 2010.
If we gain the local backing we need, and pass the checks, by winter 2010 we should be ready to enter phase two and seek the support of the Secretary of State for our application. The third phase is a full assessment by Monitor, the regulator of FTs, which will hopefully see us becoming a Foundation Trust early 2011.
