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Foundation trust expansion welcomed
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| John Hutton |
Health ministers have welcomed a new wave of NHS foundation trusts.
John Hutton said he was "delighted" with the continued roll-out of the government's flagship health service reform policy.
The independent regulator said that five new trusts would gain enhanced powers over the development of their services.
"Today's announcement marks a further step on the road to decentralisation, freeing up more of the NHS from day-to-day Whitehall control and giving local patients more power to influence local services," said Hutton.
"NHS foundation trusts are making clear improvements in quality of care for their patients.
"The existing 20 NHS foundation trusts are already reporting a significant increase in the level of interest, enthusiasm and engagement with their local communities, and are making a real difference in encouraging local innovation in how services are delivered."
A recent Guardian poll of chief executives of foundation hospitals found many feel they are tied up in red tape.
Ten chiefs said plans for all trusts to gain foundation status by 2008 was unrealistic. But 18 out of 20 said they were glad their trusts had attained foundation status.
Hutton said the new status would allow foundation trusts "the freedom to think differently".
He said that Homerton University Hospital foundation trust had been able to progress the building of a new perinatal centre two years ahead of schedule, while Moorfields was able to begin a £15 million development of a new clinical facility two years earlier than they would have done as an NHS trust.
The latest announcement means there are now 25 foundation trusts.
The regulator deferred consideration of the applications from two trusts - Southend Hospital NHS Trust and West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust - while two other applicants withdrew their applications in order to undertake further preparation.
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