DoH defends Foundation Trust progress

Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt commented: “The outcome of the review is encouraging. I am pleased that NHS Foundation Trusts have made a good start to providing better quality services to NHS patients. While it is early days NHS Foundation Trusts are making good progress in developing new services and improving accountability. “I should like to thank the Healthcare Commission for conducting this thorough review and producing its report to a short timetable. The introduction of NHS Foundation Trusts changes greatly the way in which healthcare is managed and delivered through the NHS. Such Trusts are designed to sustain, and not displace, the core NHS principles of universality and equity; with access based on clinical need and free at the point of use. The Government will also consider fully the lessons from this review for the continuing development of NHS Foundation Trusts.”