Hospital to restart Foundation bid

9:30am Tuesday 7th October 2008

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THE chief executive of a local hospital says a positive rating for its finances has helped the quest to get foundation status.

Julie Lowe has welcomed the audit commission's report which rated Ealing Hospital Primary Care Trust's financial standing with three stars out of five.

She said: “I think it is a key part in our bid to become a foundation trust. We have got to do much better than average.

“People in the trust have worked very hard to make sure we achieve this again. It's important we do meet the standards that are set as it is taxpayers money we are using.”

The trust started a bid for foundation status last year, but had to put it on hold earlier this year while healthcare for London was restructured.

Foundation status gives hospitals more decision making power in key areas giving patients more say in how the hospital is run. The application is looked at by a group of Monitors.

Ms Lowe continued: “We are hoping to reapply for the process in the next few months, and it is up to the Monitors to take a view on us.

“I am optimistic going forward we will be successful this time.”