Mental Health Trust launches Public Consultation on NHS Foundation Status at Annual Meeting
02/09/05
Three-star Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust formally launches a three-month public consultation on Tuesday, 6 September 2005, to explain why it wants to become an NHS Foundation Trust.
An important feature of an NHS Foundation Trust is that local people - staff and members of the public - can become members of the organisation. The launch - which is taking place as part of the Trust's Annual meeting at 2.30 pm, on 6th September 2005 at the Guildhall, Gloucester - also marks the start of the Trust's membership recruitment campaign.
Jeff James, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust said:
"The Trust is keen to build on its success by exploring the benefits of NHS Foundation Trust status. We think that mental health services are well suited to this kind of membership organisation because the views and experiences of our service users, carers and the public are so important in making sure that we provide services that meet the needs of the people we serve."
A document has been written to support the public consultation. It explains what an NHS Foundation Trust is and describes the opportunities it creates. People have been invited to comment upon the Trust's proposals and sign up as members. The Trust will be holding meetings to give individuals, groups and organisations the opportunity to contribute to the discussion.
The Trust believes that becoming an NHS Foundation Trust will provide opportunities to:
. Raise mental health awareness and tackle stigma
. Improve ways of responding to the needs of local communities
. Learn from people's experience to improve services
The formal consultation period begins 5 September 2005 and ends on the 27 November 2005. Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust's Board will meet to consider the outcome of the consultation on 5 December 2005, before making the application to the Department of Health on 9 December 2005.
The Trust will expect to hear whether it has been successful in obtaining the Secretary of State's approval to become an NHS Foundation Trust in January 2006. If the application is successful, the Trust will work to establish itself as an NHS Foundation Trust by April 2006 at the earliest.
Jeff James, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust said:
"The consultation provides the people of Gloucestershire with the opportunity to hear more about the Trust and its application and to give their support to the organisation and its future by signing up as members."
To order a copy of the consultation document, to sign up as members or to receive an up to-date meetings schedule people can:
Write to FT Consultation, Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust,
Rikenel, Montpellier, Gloucester, GL1 1LY
Visit Trust's website: www.partnershiptrust.org.uk - you can also enroll as a member here
Telephone: 01452 891094
Email: foundationconsultation@glos.nhs.uk
Fax: 01452 891094
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