BMJ  2005;331:59-60 (9 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7508.59

Editorial

NHS foundation trusts

The Healthcare Commission's review offers something for both proponents and detractors

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The first foundation trusts in England and Wales were established on 1 April 2004. These trusts are a cornerstone of the government's policy to decentralise decision making in the NHS.¹ To proponents, foundation trusts are setting the NHS free from the yoke of central government.² To opponents, however, these trusts represent a kind of back door privatisation which may destabilise the NHS and introduce a two tier service.³ The NHS inspectorate, the Healthcare Commission, has now reviewed the first 20 foundation trust. It published its report this week.⁴

Foundation trusts are not for profit public benefit corporations with extra freedoms to borrow capital, sell assets, retain surpluses in each year, and to develop their own systems for managing and rewarding their staff. These trusts have to meet national targets and standards like the rest of the NHS, but they are free to decide how to achieve this. They are . . . [Full text of this article]

King's Fund, London W1G 0AN (R.lewis@kingsfund.org.uk)

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