NHS's top trusts to gain greater independence in major healthcare reform

Credit: Getty Images/TkKurikawa

By Claudia Tanner

Eight of England's highest-performing NHS trusts are set to receive unprecedented autonomy under new government reforms designed to cut waiting times and improve patient care.

Health secretary Wes Streeting has announced the creation of "advanced foundation trust" status, marking what he described as a fundamental shift away from decades of centralised control towards local decision-making.

The new designation will allow the country's best-run hospitals and community health services to make faster decisions on everything from purchasing new equipment to reorganising services, without the bureaucratic delays that have traditionally hampered NHS improvements.

Under the reforms, trusts that have managed their finances responsibly and built up reserves will be able to spend their savings on patient care improvements. This could include buying new scanners more quickly or upgrading hospital wards.

For investments under £100 million, the amount of required paperwork will be drastically reduced, enabling trusts to act swiftly on improvements that benefit patients.