NHS Foundation Trusts are now the main type of organisation established to run NHS hospitals. They are set up in a way that makes them answerable to their local community. This means that as we plan to develop hospital services we will need to involve our public, patients and staff in the decision making process.

In becoming a foundation trust The Pennine Acute will become a membership organisation. To date we have recruited 8,500 public and patient members and we are looking to recruit a further 1,500 members who, along with 10,000 staff members, will elect a council of governors. The Council of Governors will advise The Pennine Acute’s Board of Directors on how the trust should provide and improve services and help ensure that it stays true to the core NHS values and principles.

Our membership will be very important to us. Members can make a real difference by helping us make the right decisions on our plans and developments and they can help develop services that benefit the needs of our patients and the local communities.

The time is right for the Pennine Acute Trust to become an NHS Foundation Trust.  As an NHS Foundation Trust we will have more freedom to work together with local people to better understand what you want and need from your hospitals. Local patients, public and staff can become members of the Trust and also stand for election as hospital Governors for the first time under these proposals.

NHS Foundation Trusts also have other freedoms such as the ability to use financial surpluses and borrow money to quickly develop new hospital buildings and services that will benefit their local communities.

To view the Trust's film about our proposal to become an NHS Foundation Trust click on the play button on the media player below and scroll down.

Alternatively, the film is also available on YouTube. Search for Pennine Acute Trust or click here.