Trust role for Clatterbridge

Aug 9 2006 Wirral News

CLATTERBRIDGE Centre for Oncology has been given the official go-ahead to become an NHS Foundation Trust.

Merseyside and Cheshire's leading cancer treatment hospital has been placed among the top 48 performing hospitals in the country after its application for NHS Foundation Trust status was approved by an independent regulator.

The hospital will nowoperate independentlyof the Department of Health and is accountable to its patients and the local community.

It remains part of the NHS, but has greater freedom and flexibility in determining how services are run in order to best meet local needs.

Local people, patients, carers and staff can become members and elect representatives to serve on a council of governors forthe trust. More than 4,200 people have already applied to become members of Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology NHS Foundation Trust.

Chief executive Tony Halsall said: "Our success in becoming afoundation trust is a credit to the professionalism and dedication of the staff. We now look forward to working together to make sure that this hospital continues to grow and concentrate wholeheartedly on caring for patients with cancer and their families."

Secretary of State for Health, Patricia Hewitt, praised Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology for dramatic improvements to the quality of service it provides.

These improvements include radiotherapy waiting times among the shortest in the country and investment of more than £1m to upgrade radiotherapy equipment within the last year.