20/04/2011

PM And Health Secretary 'Listen On NHS Accountability'

Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley have met with representatives from the Foundation Trust Network at Downing Street as part of the listening exercise on NHS modernisation.

One of the key themes of the discussion was how to improve accountability within the NHS. Foundation Trusts are part of the NHS but independent from central government. This means they are directly accountable to their patients, staff and the local community. Anyone can become a member of their local hospital and elect their own representatives to put forward their interests at Board level ensuring the hospital is accountable and responsive to local need. The Government wants all NHS Trusts to become Foundation Trusts by 2014.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: “I want to hear views from all parts of the NHS and valued the opportunity to hear from the Foundation Trust Network.

“Foundation Trusts have a key role to play in modernising the NHS and ensuring the NHS is accountable to patients in delivering continuously improving results.

“This listening exercise is a genuine opportunity to pause, reflect and improve our plans for the NHS and I’m impressed at the level of enthusiasm from all those wanting to get involved.”

The new NHS Future Forum will also meet for the first time today. This independent group, which includes patient representatives, doctors, nurses and leading health experts will drive engagement in the listening exercise and provide a valuable channel for the thoughts and opinions of patients and frontline staff.

(BMcN)

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