Foundation Trust Application deferred

A decision on Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust’s application to become an NHS Foundation Trust has been deferred by the independent regulator Monitor for a period of up to three months.

The Trust received very positive feedback on its overall application. Monitor’s Board had no concerns in terms of our governance and legal criteria, two of the three criteria they consider when licensing NHS Trusts to become Foundation Trusts.

However, with regard to our financial viability, we know that cash will be tight over the next 2 years and Monitor wish to help us with this by working with the Department of Health and the Foundation Trust Financing Facility whilst we continue to deliver our Cost Improvement Programme and manage our resources to plan.

Monitor is confident that these matters can be resolved quickly. The Trust will ensure that we continue to deliver all our targets to ensure that Monitor is in a position to license us very soon.

Heather Lawrence, Chief Executive said: “It is clearly disappointing that we have not been licensed as a Foundation Trust from August 1 but it is important to stress that our application has been deferred for a short period of time.

“We hope to become a Foundation Trust in the near future because we believe strongly that this is the right option for the patients and staff of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.

“We are convinced that Foundation Trust status will lead to tangible benefits in patient care, by giving us the flexibility to maintain and develop services that are tailored to the needs of the local community that we serve.

“It will also enable us to become more accountable to our patients, local community and staff through our Foundation Trust membership and Members’ Council.”

Even before becoming a Foundation Trust, Chelsea and Westminster has made good progress in engaging its local community in the future of the hospital:

• More than 14,000 patients, members of the public and staff have become Foundation Trust members
• Elections for a Members’ Council of patients, public and staff were held in March – if Chelsea and Westminster becomes a Foundation Trust, the Council will work with the Board of Directors as a ‘critical friend’ and help us to shape the way the Trust develops in future

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