Foundation trust review

In August 2004 the Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon John Reid MP, formally asked the Healthcare Commission to review the experiences, difficulties and challenges of the early NHS foundation trusts, and the relationship between them and others in their local health communities.

The Healthcare Commission established a foundation trust review team to undertake the review. The team consisted of Healthcare Commission employees with a range of backgrounds, including experience working for the NHS, the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI), the Audit Commission and the National Audit Office.

Following a development phase, in which the review methods were developed, the team conducted the reviewfrom October 2004 until February 2005. We interviewed all 20 NHS foundation trusts and their NHS partner organisations. We also met national bodies representing patients and NHS professionals.

Throughout the review we worked closely with the office of Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts.

It is important to note that the foundation trust review was not an assessment of each individual trust; it is meant to provide a general snapshot of the experiences, difficulties and challenges of the first 20 NHS foundation trusts.

If you are from the media and have any questions about the foundation trust review please phone the Healthcare Commission press office on 020 7448 9401. If you are a member of the public or from a foundation trust and require further information, please email:

feedback@healthcarecommission.org.uk

The Healthcare Commission's review of NHS foundation trusts

Published July 5th 2005:

The Healthcare Commission's review of NHS foundation trusts (PDF, 1612K) (opens new window)

Data tables for the quantitative analysis from the Foundation Trust Review (XLS, 61K) (opens new window)

Terms of reference for the foundation trust review (PDF, 72K) (opens new window)

Scheduled visits to foundation trusts (PDF, 116K) (opens new window)

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