In 2008 BWH became an NHS foundation trust. Giving staff, patients and members of the local community a greater say in how their hospitals are run is the driving force behind the creation of NHS foundation trusts. Greater involvement will bring lasting improvements to patient services and better health for communities.
Being a foundation trust we remain firmly part of the NHS but have been set free from central Government control to manage our own budgets and shape the services we provide to reflect the needs and priorities of our local community. Through our Council of Governors we are able to listen to the views of patients, local people, staff and partners and by doing so, offer patients faster, better and more responsive healthcare.
We believe that being a foundation trust enables us to offers the following benefits:
- For patients: greater choice and improvements in care
- For the public: greater involvement and accountability
- For our staff: greater freedom and more influence
- For the Trust: greater freedom and less bureaucracy
