Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) is to apply for NHS Foundation Trust status. The Trust will launch a public consultation on its plans from Tuesday, 9 February.
A recent survey, conducted by Ipsos MORI, showed that 94 per cent of patients and their parents were either ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ satisfied with their last visit to GOSH. The vast majority (96 per cent) of those questioned had confidence and trust in the doctors, and the same proportion said they would be likely to recommend the hospital to a friend or relative if their child needed treatment.
The hospital’s consultation will run until June 11, after which a formal application will be made to the Secretary of State for Health (SoSH). If SoSH and the independent regulator, Monitor, agree, the hospital hopes to become a Foundation Trust by early 2011.
Chief Executive, Dr Jane Collins said: “We are excited about the opportunities that Foundation Trust status will offer us. We want more freedom to innovate and grow within the NHS, so that we can improve our service, treat more children and provide a better experience for our patients and families.
“We’re pleased with the results of our patient and family satisfaction survey, but we’re not complacent, and it provided good indicators as to where we need to improve further.
“The hospital feels strongly that we must remain an independent, standalone NHS children’s hospital and not become part of a larger organisation that mostly treats adults.”
GOSH’s Foundation Trust membership is open to anyone aged over ten years. People can choose their own level of involvement and members are consulted on plans and services as well as electing the Members’ Council.
People are invited to look at the Trust’s plans and give their views:
Web:
www.gosh.nhs.uk/foundationPhone: 0207 829 7827
Email:
foundation@gosh.nhs.uk
Contact information:
For further information please contact Hayley Dodman, Great Ormond Street Hospital press office.
Phone: 0207 239 3126
Email:
dodmah@gosh.nhs.uk
