Thousands of NHS patients are set to benefit as the country's
best-run hospitals and community health trusts are set to be
handed more independence – freeing local leaders from central
bureaucracy so they can deliver faster, better, and more
personalised care.
Health and Social Care Secretary today announced a major shift in how the NHS is
run, ending decades of top-down control and giving the highest
performing organisations new “advanced foundation
trust” status.
The new designation will reward the very best leaders in the NHS
with even greater freedom to make decisions locally – from how
services are organised to how money is spent – so that care can
be designed around what works best for local people, not dictated
from Whitehall.
If trusts have been careful with taxpayers' money and have built
up savings, they can speed up processes on improvements,
including buying new scanners quicker
or improving wards.
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
Good leadership in the NHS has never mattered more.
Under our plans, if trusts manage their finances well, innovate,
and deliver for patients, we will give them the space to lead.
These reforms mark a fundamental shift from command and control
to collaboration and confidence.
For the first time in years, the NHS can look forward with
confidence rather than back in frustration.
Because we've got a plan that's not just ambitious and realistic
– we've got a plan that is working, and that is why the NHS is on
the road to recovery.
This government has given all trusts more independence and
freedom, but the new “advanced foundation trust” designation will
grant extra autonomy to local leaders who met a high bar of
assessment.
Taken together, these reforms are designed to speed up the drive
to cut waiting times, expand community-based care and reduce
health inequalities as part of the 10 Year Health Plan.
Patients across the country will see care built around their
needs, with more services delivered in the community, shorter
waiting times, and new technology helping doctors, nurses and
patients stay connected - from virtual wards and remote
monitoring to shared digital records - so care is faster, more
coordinated, and easier to access across hospitals, GPs and
community teams.
NHS England has nominated eight of the highest-performing trusts
to become the first advanced foundation trusts, who will be among
those eligible to be considered based on their record of
delivering quality care, strong finances and effective
partnerships with staff and local services.
These trusts will then be assessed by an independent panel.
Trusts that can prove they deliver good services and have
sound finances will be able to spend any money they've saved
since last year on new equipment, buildings and improving patient
care. If the amount trusts want to invest is less than £100
million, the level of paperwork will be vastly reduced.
It's designed to reward the best hospitals and cut through
the red tape that has held back some improvements to patient
care.
In return for greater autonomy and financial flexibility, the
trusts will be expected to deliver faster improvements in patient
care, waiting times and productivity, work closely with staff and
commissioners, and help drive positive change across the wider
NHS.
Trusts granted this status will also need to demonstrate they are
implementing the three big shifts of the 10 Year Health Plan –
from sickness to prevention, hospital to community, and analogue
to digital.
They will be independently reviewed at least every five
years to maintain the highest standards and encourage continuous
improvement.
Some trusts may also take on Integrated Healthcare Organisation
contracts, giving them control of the local health budget and
responsibility for improving population health. This will support
a shift in resources from hospitals to neighbourhood and
community-based care.
The Health and Social Care Secretary also announced details of
broader NHS modernisation which means patients will experience
better care thanks to billions of pounds saved from ending
duplication and slashing bureaucracy across the health service.
Background
The trusts nominated for assessment are:
- Berkshire Healthcare NHS FT
- Dorset Healthcare University NHS FT
- Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust
- Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS FT
- Northumbria Healthcare NHS FT
- Alder Hey Children's NHS FT
- Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust
- Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
