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Prime Minister and Health Secretary listen on NHS accountability

Summary: Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley met representatives from the Foundation Trust Network at Downing Street today as part of the listening exercise on NHS modernisation.

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 19 April 2011

Prime Minister David Cameron and Health Secretary Andrew Lansley met representatives from the Foundation Trust Network at Downing Street today as part of the listening exercise on NHS modernisation.

One of the key themes of the discussion was how to improve accountability within the NHS. Foundation Trusts are part of the NHS but independent from central government. This means they are directly accountable to their patients, staff and the local community. Anyone can become a member of their local hospital and elect their own representatives to put forward their interests at Board level ensuring the hospital is accountable and responsive to local need. The Government wants all NHS Trusts to become Foundation Trusts by 2014.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said:

“I want to hear views from all parts of the NHS and valued the opportunity to hear from the Foundation Trust Network today.

“Foundation Trusts have a key role to play in modernising the NHS and ensuring the NHS is accountable to patients in delivering continuously improving results.

“This listening exercise is a genuine opportunity to pause, reflect and improve our plans for the NHS and I’m impressed at the level of enthusiasm from all those wanting to get involved.”

Sue Slipman, Director of the Foundation Trust Network, said:

"We welcome this opportunity to contribute to the Government's listening exercise. We took the opportunity both to express our deep support for the reforms in their impact on foundation trusts but also to express our concerns about the challenges organisations are facing during this period of transition."

The new NHS Future Forum will also meet for the first time tomorrow. This independent group, which includes patient representatives, doctors, nurses and leading health experts will drive engagement in the listening exercise and provide a valuable channel for the thoughts and opinions of patients and frontline staff.

Patients and members of the public wishing to leave their own feedback, or find out more about the Government’s modernisation plans, are encouraged to visit the Department of Health’s dedicated website section below.

Notes to Editors

For further information contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221For more information about the Department of Health’s modernisation plans visit: www.dh.gov.uk/healthandcare

Contacts:

Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Source: wired-gov.net

 


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