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FOUNDATION STATUS FOR HOSPITAL?
East Cheshire NHS Trust has plans to become a foundation trust.
As members, the organisation say people could influence development of local services for the community, be consulted on future plans, have a direct input in improvements and a greater opportunity to make their voices heard. It is also hoped that the move would protect the hospital from any future threats to its services.
Membership makes up one third of the proposed governing structure of foundation trusts, along with a Council of Governors and Board of Directors. East Cheshire NHS Trust is expected to have a minimum of 4,000 members signed up by the time they apply to become a foundation trust.
Speaking at the first of a series of meetings, as part of the consultation, at Poynton Civic Hall, chairman Kathy Cowell said: “We are looking for the public to support our application. The Government states all trusts must be in a position to apply for foundation trust status by 2009. Two hundred and fifty members have signed up already, but to think we had 45,000 signatures on a petition supporting our hospital, to have that many members would be fantastic.”
Director of Nursing, Bernie Salisbury, said: “Foundation trusts are a new type of organisation that take their direction from local people, rather than Whitehall.
“They are accountable to their members, run by a board of directors and council of governors.”
They are still part of the NHS and subject to the same quality standards and regulations.
The care is still free and the organisations cannot be privatised.
If successful, benefits include local people, patients, carers and staff having more say in the services provided and more financial freedoms.
Kathy added: “We have worked really hard over the last two years to secure our future and we hope that this is the final piece of the jigsaw for our future and the way forward for our organisation as a Foundation Trust.
“This is a real opportunity for the trust so please join us.
“Our public have stated the case for the hospital loud and clear.
“We are hoping people will still be excited by that, and see this as an extension and get involved.”
There is no limit on the number of people who can register as members providing they are aged over 16, been a patient at the trust since January 2005, or a carer for that person or any Macclesfield borough ratepayer.
All trust staff will automatically become members, unless they opt out, and children aged between 11 and 15 can be non-voting members.
As part of the consultation on becoming a Foundation Trust, public meetings are taking place at 7pm at Wilmslow Leisure Centre on Tuesday, June 12, Congleton Town Hall on Thursday, June 14, Macclesfield Library on Thursday, June 21, Pavilion Gardens, Buxton, on Thursday, June 28, and Leek District Council on Tuesday, July 10.
