Foundation trust status makes little difference to performance, finds study

Giving “foundation” status to a hospital trust doesn’t improve its clinical or financial performance, concludes a new study by health experts.

An analysis of trusts’ performance by York University showed that giving hospitals in England the greater independence promised with foundation trust status did not automatically lead to enhanced productivity and performance, as expected.

A team of researchers from the university’s Centre for Health Economics discovered that differences between trusts were of long standing and existed before foundation trusts were introduced in 2004, with the expectation that they would achieve high productivity, greater innovation, and better care.

The centre’s team …