Bosses at Southampton鈥檚 teaching hospitals have hailed a 鈥渓andmark moment鈥� for healthcare in the city after being awarded NHS foundation trust status.
Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust has received approval from independent regulator Monitor following a rigorous assessment process and is now known as University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHSFT).
It means the Trust, which runs Southampton General and the Princess Anne hospitals and hospice Countess Mountbatten House, will benefit from greater managerial and financial freedom and will be more accountable to local people.
In addition to more than 20,000 members 鈥� ranging from staff, patients and local residents 鈥� already signed up to have a say on the running of their hospitals, the Trust has had an elected shadow Members鈥� Council in place for two years which will now represent the views of their members and scrutinise Trust decisions on a regular basis.
鈥淭his is a landmark moment for the city and is a reflection of the outstanding skill and commitment of our staff, who have been instrumental in securing this status and moving us closer towards our vision of becoming one of the world鈥檚 leading medical and academic centres,鈥� said chief executive Mark Hackett.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Don Nutbeam, commented: 鈥淲e are delighted with the award of Foundation Trust status to the hospital, and proud of our long term engagement in its development. The use of the title 鈥淯niversity Hospital鈥� is symbolic of the extraordinarily productive relationship between the University and the Trust in education, research and the delivery of patient care. This is the beginning of a new era in our partnership.鈥�