Foundation Trust Green Light for Community Hospitals
27th July 2010
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin today helped clear an obstacle from the path of community hospitals becoming Foundation Trusts after getting the green light for ‘volunteer’ board members.
In a written question sent to Health Minister Simon Burns, Harriett asked whether community hospitals could use unpaid board members.
In a recent discussion with NHS Worcestershire chief Paul Bates, the MP was told that the cost of paying a board was an obstacle preventing its community hospitals from becoming a Foundation Trust.
The Department of Health regulations allow for unpaid board members and the latest statement allows for Worcestershire’s community hospitals to adopt this approach.
Harriett said: “When I met Paul Bates, CEO of NHS Worcestershire last week, he explained that an objection to a stand-alone Trust was the cost of the Board. He told me that a separate board would cost £500,000 in salaries.
“I am sure that there will be a wealth of very able people who will be willing to take on this challenge on behalf of the community.
“I have today written to Paul Bates with the reply and I look forward to his response.”
Last week, the Government released a white paper outlining proposed reform of the NHS including proposed structural reforms which will allow staff to focus on patients not bureaucracy.
