Picture showing a QR Code that when scanned on a smart phone using a QR Code reader will allow access to the Trust's Foundation Trust Applicaiton web siteWest Herts Hospitals NHS Trust

Foundation Trust Application

»Your Questions

Here's a selection of questions and answers from public meetings, other groups and by post/email

» What is a Foundation Trust?

Foundation Trusts are a new type of organisation established to pass decision-making from central government control to local organisations and communities. The have certain financial freedoms, but most importantly have a Board of democratically elected Governors who represent the Members of the Trust.

They are still firmly a part of the NHS and uphold all NHS standards and principles including providing free care for all, based on health needs and not ability to pay.

» Why is West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust applying for Foundation Trust status?

We are proud of the modern and high-quality services we currently provide for the public but are determined to do even better. We believe becoming a Foundation Trust is the best way to realise our ambitions. This is an exciting step that will support our continuing drive for excellence.

Our consultation document 'Your hospital, your future' explains in detail why we want to become a Foundation Trust and the benefits and risks this would bring to the public, our patients and carers and staff.

» Is this consultation about service changes?

No. The Trust is not proposing, any new service changes in this consultation. We welcome this opportunity to consult with you on the 'vision' element of our plans, and would love to hear your views and comments. Previous consultations include

What are the benefits of becoming a Foundation Trust?

Foundation Trusts are directly accountable to the public through Membership. Becoming an NHS Foundation Trust would bring many benefits including being:

  • free to make decisions quickly based on local needs and evidence - and so bringing health benefits to the public more rapidly
  • retain any surplus money at the end of each financial year to reinvest on local services as we see fit

This is why we want to become a Foundation Trust - so that we can provide even better, high quality and responsive hospital services to the public.

» Is there a risk involved in becoming a Foundation Trust?

Just as we would no longer be accountable to the Strategic Health Authority, neither would we be financially supported by them either. In the past Trusts in financial difficulties have received additional funds in order for them to be able to balance their books. Foundation Trusts would not have access to that kind of financial support and would be held to account for decisions taken. 

» Has the public had a say about their views on West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust becoming Foundation Trust?

Yes. We have consulted with the public to find out what they think about our Foundation Trust plans as outlined in our consultation document 'Your hospital, your future' 

We wanted as many people as possible to feedback their views and help shape our Foundation Trust application by completing our consultation questionnaire, by attending one of our consultation events or by contacting us.

You can also show your support for our vision of becoming a Foundation Trust by joining as a Member by completing our Foundation Trust Membership form.

» What is Membership and who can become a Member?

To be successful in our application for Foundation Trust status we need to demonstrate how we would be accountable to the public right from the start. We believe that through Membership we will be able to achieve this goal and: 

  • better understand and serve your health needs, priorities and aspirations
  • put the public right at the very heart of decision making
  • for the first time ever the public are able to become Members of the Trust and have the opportunity to join a democratically elected Governing Council that has real power to shape local hospital services

You can become a Member by completing a Membership form

» What does being a Member involve?

Being a Member gives you a voice. You can do as much or as little as you want to, it's free to join and as a Member you can:

  • demonstrate support for your local NHS
  • have your voice heard on health issues
  • vote for Governors
  • stand as a Governor yourself
  • represent your community by ensuring local focus on local needs
  • attend national events
  • have early access to information on changes to health services
  • be in control of what is discussed in health in your local area
  • receive information and have the chance to exchange your views and ideas
» Does it cost anything to become a Member?

No.

» Is there a financial benefit to becoming a Member?

No. You do not get to share in the Trust's financial surpluses, but you will be helping your local community.

» Is there a limit on the number of Members that can join?

No. In fact we want as many people as possible to become Members so that we can better understand and serve the needs of the local community.

However, to proceed with our Foundation Trust application we have set a target of one per cent of our population (5,000 people) to become public Members.

» Can you be a Member of more than one Foundation Trust?

Yes.

» What does being a Public Governor involve?

As a Public Governor, you would primarily represent Members from the constituency in which you live. The constituencies are:

  • Berkhamsted and Tring
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • Harpenden
  • Hertsmere
  • Out of Area  Public
  • St Albans
  • Three Rivers
  • Watford

Public Governors would work with groups of Members, both in their local area and across West Hertfordshire, to:

  • explore opinions on individual health issues
  • discuss how best to meet the needs of specific groups
  • establish local topic groups
  • set up other events

You would have a very important role to play in making sure that both the Governing Council, and through them the Trust's Executive Board, hears and responds to local views.

» Who can be a Public Governor?

Any Member of the Trust who has an interest in championing local health needs and ensuring the views of the public are heard. 

» How are Public Governors elected?

Public Governors will be democratically elected by Members and the process will be managed by an independent election company

» When will elections for Governors take place?

It is anticipated that elections for a shadow Governing Council will take place in the Autumn of 2009.

» Who will be your Stakeholder Governors?

We propose that the following organisations and groups will be invited to have one seat each on the Governing Council:

  • Hertfordshire County Council
  • Local Involvement Network (LINk) - representing local individuals and community
  • General Parishioners Practice Based Commissioning
  • Primary Care Trust/s
  • University of Hertfordshire (who supply most of our nurses and auxiliary staff)
» Why have you not mirrored the geographical boundaries set by the Local Authority in your proposals for Public Governors?

To fairly reflect the views of everyone living in west Hertfordshire, we have proposed the following geographical boundaries to mirror the areas that we serve:

  • Berkhamsted and Tring
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • Harpenden 
  • Hertsmere
  • St Albans
  • Three Rivers
  • Watford
  • Out of Area Public 
» Who can apply to become a Foundation Trust?

Any NHS Trust that can demonstrate to Monitor (the independent corporate regulatory body) that they are well managed, financially strong and can show that they will be accountable to the public through Membership.

» Will the change to Foundation Trust status be permanent?

Yes.

» What happens if we don't become a Foundation Trust?

It is Government policy that all NHS Trusts will become Foundation Trusts by 2010. If we don't become a Foundation Trust then there is no clear picture for hospital services in West Hertfordshire, but they would not be run by a west Hertfordshire Foundation Trust with the remit to focus locally. One option could be that service would be provided by an out of area Foundation Trust and West Herts issues would have to compete for priority.

» Will Foundation Trusts lead to privatisation of the NHS?

No. The care NHS Foundation Trusts provide will continue to be free for all, based on health needs and not ability to pay.

» Why have you changed Proposal 3 during the consultation period?

We listened to people's views on our third membership Category of Out of Area Patient (& Carers) It became clear after 4 weeks of consulting with people, that it needed to be changed and widened so that anyone over the age of 16 who lives in west Hertfordshire or the surrounding areas who wanted to become a Member could do so.

There is specific legislation describing the categories of membership allowed. This group of people would now come under the Public Membership category and would have a constituency of 'Out of Area Public', rather than an out of Area Patient (& Carers) Membership Category.

We have extended the consultation period until 20 February 2009 to properly hear views on this change as well as our other proposals.

» Why are you not going to have a patient group anymore?

Our Public Constituencies include all of our patients, we do not distinguish between them.
The views of our patients and local communities are extremely important to us and our ability to hear those views is what will define our success as a Foundation Trust. We believe that geographically based constituencies, represented on the Board by democratically elected Governors is the best way to reflect the views of our membership.

» My family all live in west Hertfordshire and receive hospital services from you. I live outside the local authority boundary and have never been a patient, but I want to have a voice in the Trust. Can I become a Member?

You are eligible to be a member of the 'Out of Area Public' Constituency if you live in one of the surrounding areas of west Hertfordshire. Previously you would not have been able to be a member of the Out of Area Patient (& Carers) as you yourself were not a patient or the carer of a patient.

» I am a paid carer of a patient who does not live in west Hertfordshire am I able to become a Member?

You are eligible to be a member of the 'Out of Area Public' Constituency. Previously you would not have been able to be a member of the Out of Area Patient (& Carers) category as you receive an income for being a carer.

» Will people who don't become a member still receive treatment?

Yes. Membership does not affect hospital treatment or how you are treated as a patient.

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