The mental health NHS foundation trust sector has been strengthened by the addition of three more trusts authorised by Monitor, it was announced today. The independent regulator for NHS foundation trusts confirmed the following mental health foundation trusts will be authorised from 1 Aug 2007:

Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust;
Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust; and
Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.
The announcement means there are 73 NHS foundation trusts in total, of which 13 are mental health NHS foundation trusts. The 73 foundation trusts have around 750,000 members and a combined income of £15.1billion forecast for this financial year.

Having achieved NHS foundation trust status these trusts will benefit from a variety of new freedoms:

they are free from central government control and are able to decide how to improve their services;
they can retain any surpluses they generate to invest in new services, and can borrow money to support these investments; and
they are accountable to their local communities; local people can become members and governors.
These freedoms mean NHS foundation trusts can better shape their healthcare services around local needs and priorities and the requirements of their primary care trusts.

For more information, visit www.dh.gov.uk or click the link below to go to the Hertfordshire Partnership Trust website.

Simon
Viewpoint Webteam

SOURCE: Monitor