Advanced foundation trusts: what changes will they bring for doctors?

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By Adele Waters

As the government announces the first six advanced foundation trusts, Doctors.net.uk looks into what they are and what they mean for doctors and patients.

What are advanced foundation trusts?

They are high performing NHS hospital trusts granted greater freedom to make decisions, plan services and accelerate improvements for patients.

The government has announced that the first cohort will be: Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust; Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust; Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust; Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Why has this new status been introduced?

In the 10 Year Health Plan, the government said it wanted to ‘reinvent the NHS foundation trust (FT) model for a modern age’, shifting power away from Whitehall and distribute it to local providers, staff and citizens.

Its vision is that by 2035, all hospital trusts will operate more independently, being able to reinvest any surplus income as well as borrow to fund capital projects.