A letter published today outlines the next steps to deliver an all foundation trust (FT) provider landscape.
The letter covers four key themes:
- All 114 aspirant NHS trusts have now signed formal public agreements which commit them to achieving FT status by a certain date. Milestones within each agreement are final and progress against these will be monitored by the strategic health authority (SHA) clusters and the Department.
- The development of a board assurance framework, in partnership with existing FTs, to enable trust boards to assure their own capabilities
- Some financial support could be available to NHS trusts to enable them to achieve their milestones, providing they meet four key tests
- Plans for the structures and processes associated with the NHS Trust Development Authority
Ian Dalton, Senior Responsible Officer for the NHS Trust Development Authority has written to the chief executives of all NHS trusts.