Foundation Trusts
Foundation trusts 'boost UK wealth'
Foundation trusts in the NHS benefit the UK economy to the tune of £30bn a year, a new report has found.
Forty-two trusts won't submit foundation applications by April 2014
Forty-two of the 101 NHS providers yet to become foundation trusts will either not do so in their present form, or will breach the current government’s previous authorisation deadline of April 2014.
Minister 'nervous' about criminal sanctions on individuals
Health minister Lord Howe has said he is “nervous” about the proposal by Robert Francis QC for individual healthcare staff to be liable for criminal sanctions.
Confed: NHS should avoid administration for trusts
More needs to be done to help financially-troubled hospital trusts before they face going into administration, according to NHS representatives and unions.
Non-foundation trusts to face 5.1 per cent saving target
The NHS trust sector is looking to cut £1.5bn from its cost base this year in a squeeze that could prompt questions about the viability of some organisations, David Flory has revealed.
Analysed: The Bournemouth and Poole merger
HSJ Briefing is our in-depth analysis of key issues facing some of the major NHS health economies. This week we examine the proposed merger between Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals and Poole Hospital foundation trusts
New rulebook unveiled for would-be foundation trusts
The NHS Trust Development Authority today releases its “accountability framework” setting out how it will work with the NHS trusts that have not yet achieved foundation status.
Analysed: the state of the FT pipeline
HSJ Briefing is our in-depth analysis of key issues facing some of the major NHS health economies. This week we examine the state of the foundation trust pipeline in the wake of the Francis inquiry.
MPs call for abolition of 'inflexible' NHS spending restraints
An influential committee of MPs has called for “unnecessarily inflexible” restrictions on NHS spending to be “abolished”, to allow providers to invest their accumulated reserves in reforming services.
Third of foundation trusts failed A&E waiting targets in Q3
Monitor has reported a sharp decline in performance of foundation trust accident and emergency departments, with over a third of the sector missing A&E waiting targets in the last three months of 2012.
HMRC investigating trusts over drug tax schemes
HM Revenue and Customs is examining hospital trusts’ tax arrangements amid a growing trend to lawfully avoid paying VAT on outpatient drugs, HSJ has learned.
Monitor unveils shake-up of financial risk ratings
Monitor will no longer use foundation trusts’ operating profitability or surpluses as measures of the financial risk they are carrying, under proposals unveiled by the regulator.
OFT moves to extend its jurisdiction over NHS mergers
The Office of Fair Trading has moved to take over responsibility for assessing mergers between NHS trusts and foundation trusts, in a development which could have significant implications for the “pipeline” of aspirant FTs.
Monitor delays FT bids due to quality concerns
Monitor has deferred foundation trust applications from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust and Leicestershire Partnership Trust because of quality concerns.
Strategy advised to prevent trust failure
Regulatory authorities, health commissioners and the government will have to take urgent action to stop trusts from becoming financially unstable, the NHS Confederation has warned.
Bennett appointed to permanent chief executive role at Monitor
The Monitor board has appointed interim chief executive David Bennett to the permanent role at the foundation trust regulator.
FTs 20pc short of savings target
Monitor will today reveal that foundation trusts missed savings targets by nearly 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2012-13.
Acute FTs push their workforce reductions back to 2013-14
Acute foundation trusts are planning to increase staff numbers by more than 2,500 this financial year, latest figures released to HSJ show.
New FTN chief calls for big cut in commissioner underspends
The new chief executive of the Foundation Trust Network has called for NHS commissioners to significantly cut the proportion of health funding they leave unspent.
Struggling FTs may face insolvency regime in 2013-14 - Hay
Monitor may need to place some NHS foundation trusts in administration as soon as 2013-14 – the first year its powers to do so take effect, the regulator’s chief operating officer has suggested.
More on FTs
Is bigger better for the NHS?
Economies of scale do exist in the NHS – so how do we reap the benefits?
The principles behind integrated care for older people
How South Warwickshire FT transformed older people’s services
How King's made the most of a commercial break
A commercial arm is helping one foundation trust enhance care
Trusts lose ground in online marketing race
Providers are missing opportunities to promote themselves
