Foundation Trust
NHS Foundation Trusts are controlled by local organisations and communities rather than central government, so they are more responsive to the needs and wishes of local people.
This is why King’s has become an NHS Foundation Trust – because it gives us, our patients, our local community and other organisations a greater say in how we provide, manage and develop our services.
Working together means we can improve care and services to improve the lives of people who live locally and further afield.
Benefits of being a NHS Foundation Trust
- More flexible and responsive
- to the specific needs of our community and our patients, whether they live near King’s or come from further afield
- Working more closely with local GPs
- to identify which services are most important to patients.
- Every part of the community has a voice
- because we have a representative Council of Governors made up of members of the public.
- Local Public Governors
- understand the issues affecting patients and visitors, and are able to represent our diverse local community
- Patient Governors
- can suggest how to improve things based on their own needs and experiences
- Staff Governors
- who work on the frontline, can influence over the provision of services and the direction the hospital is taking
- Governors from organisations with whom we work
- such as local councils and Primary Care Trust, allow us to share ideas, get feedback and co-operate on local issues
- Listening to our local community
- means that we meet their needs and that they can have a real say in how we run and develop our services such as the consultation on plans to improve our Emergency Department
- Improving local services
- by working with our Governors and members, such as the successful campaign to speed up disabled access at Denmark Hill train station
- Cmmunication and understanding
- between staff and patients is improved and strengthened.
Who regulates NHS Foundation Trusts?
Monitor
Monitor is the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts. It checks to see if:
- hospital services are delivered effectively and efficiently
- a strong leadership team is working to improve patient care
- all financial and non-financial plans are working and, if not, that problems are resolved.
You can find out more about what Monitor does at www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk.
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent organisation that licenses all health and adult social care providers in England. It is responsible for
- checking that care provides meet all essential standards for quality and safety
- registering and monitoring care services to ensure they uphold standards
- taking action if it finds care services are not meeting essential standards
- working with service users, providers, commissioners and other regulators to improve poor quality care.
You can find out more about what the CQC does at www.cqc.org.uk.