Top NHS Trusts set to gain greater independence
In what has been described as “an exciting step”, health and social care secretary Wes Streeting has revealed the government's plans to end the top-down control of Trusts and give the highest-performing organisations new advanced foundation trust status.
“Under our plans, if trusts manage their finances well, innovate and deliver for patients, we will give them the space to lead,” said Streeting. “These reforms mark a fundamental shift from command and control to collaboration and confidence.”
Meanwhile this week, according to The Public Accounts Committee, NHS England has failed to meet its post-COVID recovery goals to shorten patient waiting lists despite having spent £3.24 billion on transforming diagnostic and surgical services. Additionally, Hospice UK is warning that financial pressures mean that there has been a 25% jump in beds out of use in hospices across England.
Read on to discover more about these and other issues affecting healthcare professionals and patients....
GLEN FERRIS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF