Local Involvement Network ahead of the game

On 25^th May St Georges Hospital will begin a 12 week public consultation on their plans to become a Foundation Trust. Wandsworth LINk is getting in there early and offering residents a chance to preview these plans at their next public meeting on May 18^th at Balham Library. Peter Jenkinson, St Georges Trust Secretary, will be giving a presentation on the proposals and attendees will have an opportunity to comment on them at this free and open meeting.

NHS Foundation Trusts are a new type of NHS organisation, established as independent, not for profit public benefit corporations with accountability to their local communities rather than Central Government control. Senior staff at St George’s believe that ‘Achieving Foundation Trust status is important to the future of the hospital as it will allow us to develop our services to better meet the needs of our patients and local community.’

However, critics fear that Foundation Trusts go against the basic principles of the NHS and will create inequalities as other hospitals within the NHS will not be able to compete.  Unison has listed 7 reasons why they object to Foundation Trusts, claiming that ‘they are poor value for money, a backdoor to privatisation and their governance framework does not lead to greater local accountability or social ownership.’

The Wandsworth LINk meeting on 18^th May at Balham Library is open to all, just turn up on the night. The presentation from St Georges and open discussion will begin at  7.30 p.m. For more details contact Wandsworth LINk on 0208 516 7767 or email sarah@wandcareall.org.uk.