St George's given foundation trust status

The £664m turnover organisation is the largest trust to have achieved the foundation trust designation since the NHS Trust Development Authority was set up following the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The organisation has seen several deferrals to its attempts to get licensed, having previously had to wait for an inspection under the Care Quality Commission’s new regime. In December its application was deferred because it did not have in place the commercial overdraft facilities that Monitor requires FTs to have.

It now has these facilities and has promised Monitor it will improve its accident and emergency performance, which has declined over the past year.

Trust chief executive Miles Scott said: “This is a great day for our staff, our patients and the communities we serve. Achieving foundation trust status is a recognition of the high quality services and safe care we provide in hospital and in the community.

“Our success is the result of a long period of improvement from a workforce whose energy, commitment and compassion is outstanding.

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“In authorising us, Monitor has said it will keep a close eye on the waiting times for patients in our emergency department. We will continue working hard to reduce this and to provide the best possible care for every patient, no matter how busy we are.”

Monitor’s executive director of provider appraisal, Miranda Carter, said: “We are delighted to announce that Monitor has allowed St George’s Healthcare Trust to become a foundation trust. This is great news for the trust, which benefits from new freedoms, but even better news for its patients, who can have a greater say over their health services.

“The trust has worked very hard to achieve foundation trust status and should feel proud of this accomplishment.”