HALTON Hospital could become part of an NHS foundation trust if plans being drawn up by hospital bosses come to fruition.
The hospitals in Runcorn and Warrington are currently operated as part of North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust but bosses want greater control over what they do and are demanding the independence that being a foundation trust brings.
A foundation trust is a not-for- profit organisation which is outside the control of central Government while remaining part of the NHS.
A North Cheshire Hospitals spokesperson said: ‘Becoming a foundation trust would give us a lot more freedom to do the things that we and the local people want, and we would be able to do things quicker.’
The planning application to change status is expected to take at least a year and a public consultation is to begin in January.
During the process the trust will be recruiting members to support its bid.
A spokesperson said: ‘We would be looking to get between 5,000 and 7,000 members.
‘Any person who has been a patient or lives in the area can become a member and membership is free of charge.’
If the application is approved next summer by the independent regulator Monitor, it would be a seal of approval for the trust’s hard work after being beset with financial difficulties.
In 2006-07 the trust lost £6.6m although it is forecasting a surplus of £3.5m for the current financial year.
He said: ‘Becoming a foundation trust would be a sign that we have sorted out the problems of the past few years.’
