STRUCTURE: The ambulance trust’s bid for foundation trust status has been put forward for consideration by the health secretary, the final stage prior to its assessment by FT regulator Monitor.

The latest provider development update to the board of strategic health authority cluster NHS North of England states: “The North West Ambulance Service FT application is in the DH phase of the pipeline.

“Having been approved to progress by the July technical committee and the medical directors in August it was reviewed by the applications committee on 30 August. The committee decided that the application can go forward to the Secretary of State to be considered for final approval and sign off. If the decision is favourable the next stage will be submission of the application to Monitor by DH.”