What Is An NHS Foundation Trust?

Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust > Our Trust > An engaged, effective organisation > Foundation Trust > What Is An NHS Foundation Trust?

NHS Foundation Trusts are a type of organisation called a Public Benefit Corporation. They remain firmly part of the NHS and are subject to the same standards as all other NHS Trusts.

At the same time they are locally run and are more clearly accountable to their patients and the public. They aim to make the NHS more responsive to the needs and changing expectations of patients.

NHS Foundation Trusts:

• Are accountable to patients, local people and staff who will have a greater voice through becoming members
• Are run by a Board of Directors and governed by a Council of Governors, made up of elected staff Governors, appointed stakeholder Governors and a majority of public Governors elected from the Trust’s membership
• Have new freedoms to decide locally how to deliver services
• Have more financial and business freedom to access funds and retain surpluses to invest in facilities and services
• Have additional flexibilities to recruit and retain staff
• Are authorised and monitored by the Independent Regulator for NHS Foundation Trusts (Monitor)
• Are legally bound to work closely with partner organisations

All NHS Trusts are required to become NHS Foundation Trusts by 2014.

As an NHS Foundation Trust, our primary purpose will continue to be to provide NHS care to NHS patients. This will be based on the main principle of the NHS – care based on need, not the ability to pay.