Call for control on foundation trusts

As 10 more foundation hospitals were approved last week, social
services directors warned that more safeguards were needed to
prevent them becoming “rogue partners”.

Andrew Cozens, president of the Association of Directors of Social
Services, said he was concerned that foundation hospitals’ greater
freedoms – including the right to “chase business” – might lead
them to develop “mutant social care”.

He added: “We are worried that foundation hospitals would have the
capacity to develop their own variants on social care without
regard to the wider framework of services. We were also keen that
they should not be able to escape from child protection.”

Cozens said he hoped that amendments to the Children Bill and the
new regulator for foundation hospitals would provide these
safeguards.

Health think-tank the King’s Fund is also concerned that care of
people with chronic diseases might be jeopardised by the trusts.

Chief executive Niall Dickson said: “There is a danger that the new
system of paying hospitals, together with their new foundation
status, could work against efforts to reduce avoidable
hospitalisation.”

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