SIR – There has been much comment in the Worcester News regarding the Worcester Acute Hospital Trust’s decision to hold board meetings in private when they become a foundation trust.
I wonder if many Worcester News readers know what a foundation trust is?
It is basically a way of the trust determining more of its own policies free from government interference. In other words a ‘light regulatory touch’, the same idea that Gordon Brown applied to the banks with the disastrous effect on our economy we are feeling now.
The problems with Stafford Acute Hospital Trust was that the board devoted most of its time to achieving foundation trust status rather than what they were there to do, namely the curing and care of patients.
So, to the cynics such as myself, the NHS is going down the same route as the banking system but under a fancy name.
The Government would have us believe that they have safeguards in place such as the Health Commission and other regulators. But they said that about the FSA and the banking system and look what happened there? Most of these so-called regulators cost us vast sums and get hoodwinked by the very people they are supposed to regulate.
It is about time the Government ditched the whole idea of foundation trusts.
Terry James,
Drakes Broughton,
Pershore
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here