DUDLEY South MP and the UK’s Science Minister Ian Pearson MP has welcomed news the Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust has become the first in the Black Country to become a Foundation Trust.
The announcement made on October 1 means the Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, will now be known as The Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will be freed from a large amount of Government control and can set its own priorities for delivering health care under the control of a local board of governors.
It will also be able to retain any financial excesses to invest locally and borrow money commercially to decide for itself how to improve services and boost capacity.
Labour MP Mr Pearson said: “There has been a long and active campaign to achieve Trust status for Dudley and I am pleased Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, agrees Dudley deserves this new level of independence.
“The management and staff deserve great credit for the hard work that has gone into enabling the Trust to qualify for foundation status.
“A local management overseen by local governors can only be good news for local patients. I am sure Russells Hall and the other services run the Trust will continue to develop as a centre of excellence for patient care.”
Delighted Trust chief executive, Paul Farenden, said: “We are committed to providing the best possible healthcare for the people of Dudley and surrounding areas and becoming a Foundation Trust will help us to continue to develop the best services for local people.
“Our vision is to be the ‘Hospital of Choice’ not only for patients but for staff too. Without a doubt it is the dedication and hard work of all our staff that has made us successful in our journey to becoming a Foundation Trust.”
As part of its new status, the Trust can allow residents to become members and governors - enabling them to have their say on how healthcare is delivered.
It currently has 12,000 members, but is looking to reach more than 16,000 in the next three years.
Anyone wishing to join can call 01384 456111 extension 1419 or visit www.dgoh.nhs.uk
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