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03/07/2003
Foundation hospitals granted public sector status
The Office for National Statistics today announced that, consistent with international guidelines for National Accounts, NHS Foundation Trusts will provisionally be classified in the public sector as central government bodies.
The decision, taken by the Public Sector Classification Committee (PSCC) of the ONS, is based on the judgment that government has control of the general corporate policy of NHS Foundation Trusts.
NHS Foundation Trusts are a new type of organisation, called a "public benefit corporation". They will have members instead of shareholders. Some control of NHS Foundation Trusts will rest with their directors and members, the majority of whom will be from the private sector.
Foundation Trusts will have additional freedoms, compared with existing NHS trusts, but their ability to determine their general corporate policy will be restricted by government involvement through restrictions in both the planned legislation and regulatory powers:
• The imposition of borrowing limits
• A legal duty to follow NHS values
• Regulatory approval needed to amend constitutions
The ONS has decided that this involvement is sufficient to determine the trusts as government controlled. This decision is provisional as legislation on Foundation Trusts is going through Parliament.
The PSCC also reviewed the classification of existing NHS Trusts and has decided that these should also be classified as central government. They were previously classified as public sector corporations.
The PSCC's terms of reference are to consider requests for classification advice and to decide on the appropriate National Accounts classification. Its members are drawn from ONS staff who use their personal expertise and call on the views of others as necessary in formulating their responses.
Decisions are consistent with the principles of the international statistical manuals, European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95) and the System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA93) and supporting manuals and case law.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has also considered the classification of NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts and agrees with the ONS's conclusions.
The decision, taken by the Public Sector Classification Committee (PSCC) of the ONS, is based on the judgment that government has control of the general corporate policy of NHS Foundation Trusts.
NHS Foundation Trusts are a new type of organisation, called a "public benefit corporation". They will have members instead of shareholders. Some control of NHS Foundation Trusts will rest with their directors and members, the majority of whom will be from the private sector.
Foundation Trusts will have additional freedoms, compared with existing NHS trusts, but their ability to determine their general corporate policy will be restricted by government involvement through restrictions in both the planned legislation and regulatory powers:
• The imposition of borrowing limits
• A legal duty to follow NHS values
• Regulatory approval needed to amend constitutions
The ONS has decided that this involvement is sufficient to determine the trusts as government controlled. This decision is provisional as legislation on Foundation Trusts is going through Parliament.
The PSCC also reviewed the classification of existing NHS Trusts and has decided that these should also be classified as central government. They were previously classified as public sector corporations.
The PSCC's terms of reference are to consider requests for classification advice and to decide on the appropriate National Accounts classification. Its members are drawn from ONS staff who use their personal expertise and call on the views of others as necessary in formulating their responses.
Decisions are consistent with the principles of the international statistical manuals, European System of Accounts 1995 (ESA95) and the System of National Accounts 1993 (SNA93) and supporting manuals and case law.
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, has also considered the classification of NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts and agrees with the ONS's conclusions.
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04 January 2005
Five further health trusts make foundation grade
Following approval by the independent regulatory body, five Trusts have been granted Foundation Trust status.
Five further health trusts make foundation grade
Following approval by the independent regulatory body, five Trusts have been granted Foundation Trust status.
16 January 2004
First wave of Foundation Trust hospitals announced
Health Secretary John Reid today confirmed that he will support 24 NHS Trusts in their bids to become the first wave of NHS Foundation Trusts.
First wave of Foundation Trust hospitals announced
Health Secretary John Reid today confirmed that he will support 24 NHS Trusts in their bids to become the first wave of NHS Foundation Trusts.
14 November 2003
Government urged to abandon foundation hospitals
The BMA has appealed to the government today to drop the clauses on NHS foundation hospitals from the Health and Social Care Bill which is currently making its way through parliament.
Government urged to abandon foundation hospitals
The BMA has appealed to the government today to drop the clauses on NHS foundation hospitals from the Health and Social Care Bill which is currently making its way through parliament.
08 October 2003
First wave of hospitals apply for foundation trust status
The government has revealed that 32 three-star NHS Trusts have completed the first stage of the application process to become NHS Foundation Trusts.
First wave of hospitals apply for foundation trust status
The government has revealed that 32 three-star NHS Trusts have completed the first stage of the application process to become NHS Foundation Trusts.
30 April 2003
Milburn defends foundation trust hospitals
The health secretary has today moved to defend the government's controversial plans for foundation trust hospitals. Health Secretary Alan Milburn said today that the measures locally administered trusts would give local communities "more say in how services are run".
Milburn defends foundation trust hospitals
The health secretary has today moved to defend the government's controversial plans for foundation trust hospitals. Health Secretary Alan Milburn said today that the measures locally administered trusts would give local communities "more say in how services are run".
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