Foundation Trust Watch
Latest document

In the Interests of Patients? - Report

Gives an account of the changes introduced since 2002 which, taken together, are creating a competitive commercial market within the NHS. It explains why UNISON believes that this undermines key principles which underpin the NHS, why it will be inefficient and costly and why it risks undermining quality of care.
Link to a PDF document on this siteIn the Interests of Patients? - Report
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Foundation Hospitals

Keep the NHS Working
Keep the NHS Working campaign
Foundation trusts are a form of hospital being introduced by the government as part of its programme of reforms in the NHS.

Since their introduction UNISON has remained opposed to the principles of Foundation Trust status. There are currently 70 Foundation Trusts and it is the government's intention that all trusts will move to Foundation Trust status by 2008. UNISON believes Foundation Trust status undermine the principles of the national health service.

Foundation trusts are:

  • part of a market in which trusts compete against each other for patients
  • unaccountable to the Secretary of State
  • have greater powers than other trusts - for example to keep surpluses and borrow from the private sector.

UNISON believes foundation trusts will lead to increased inequalities between NHS services and the extension of charging.

We reject the government's argument that they are needed to increase local accountability and consider their governance arrangements to be flawed.

CONTACT DETAILS
• Dave Godson - National Officer
• Robert Baughan - Assistant National Officer:
UNISON Healthcare
1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ
Email: ftwatch@unison.co.uk
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