30 November 2013

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

Hospital health chiefs are heading to East Grinstead for their latest public consultation on their plans to become a foundation trust. Now they want people in the town to come along and play a part in the trust’s future development. Becoming a NHS foundation trust is an essential goal for Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, and one it aims to achieve by April 2015.

Chief Executive Michael Wilson said: “Achieving FT status these days is about achieving a mark of quality – it’s a badge that says we deliver the best services. It also means the people we serve can have a greater say in our plans by becoming members and electing a Council of Governors.

“This consultation is about finding out what people think of our plans to become an FT – what our membership could look like and how they can influence decisions. I would encourage everyone to come along to the public meetings we are holding and play an essential role in shaping our proposals.”

Alan McCarthy, Trust Chairman, added: “Becoming an FT will increase the trust’s accountability to patients, staff and the public. We will carefully consider all feedback we receive during the consultation so that we can become an FT and continue to deliver safe, high quality care.”

Foundation trusts are different from existing NHS Trusts as they have more financial flexibility, are free from central government control and have different governance arrangements.

The additional freedom enables FTs to make decisions about their own future – decisions they reach with the involvement of the communities and the patients they serve.

The public consultation runs for 12 weeks and will end on February 28 next year following a series of meetings across the region. The Trust’s proposals can be found on their website at www.sash.nhs.uk/ft

How can members of the public respond?

There will be 10 events hosted across the SASH region where members of the public can hear more about the trust’s plans. Times and venues for these events are as follows:

• Dorking Halls – Monday Nov 25th 11am – 1pm
• Oxted Community Centre – Friday Nov 29th 12.30 – 2.30pm
• Meridian Hall, East Grinstead – Tuesday Dec 3rd 12 – 2pm
• East Surrey Hospital – Monday Dec 9th
• Crawley Hospital – Friday Dec 13th
• Reigate Community Centre – Tuesday 17th Dec 11am – 1pm
• Harlequin Theatre, Redhill – Thursday Dec 19th 12-2pm
• Drill Hall, Horsham – Tuesday Jan 7th 6pm – 8pm
• Crawley Civic Hall – Friday Jan 10th – 11am – 1pm
• Croydon – tbc

About Foundation Trusts (FTs)

FTs remain part of the NHS and remain free at the point of use. They are subject to NHS standards, performance ratings and systems of inspection. FTs are also membership organisations from which a Council of Governors will be elected. The Council of Governors will engage with the membership and represent members’ views when decisions are made about trust’s future.