Foundation hospital future lies in wait for Hereford

To qualify it would have to achieve a three-star rating in Department of Health tables expected in July.

The suggestion that Hereford Hospitals Trust could loosen its strings with the DoH and take control of its own destiny comes in a letter from Mike Marchment, chief executive of West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority which covers Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Coventry.

The letter contains the results of a review of the provisions of health services across Herefordshire last year and proposals for the future.

In many areas it congratulates Herefordshire Primary Care Trust, the Hospital Trust and Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service on its services.

Referring to the county's three-year local delivery plan, Mr Marchment said its contents were of the highest standard within the Strategic Health Authority.

Three stars

But it is his reference to the County Hospital becoming a Foundation Hospital that will cause most discussion.

Foundation hospitals are Government inspired, originally suggesting that top hospitals could achieve such status.

But now it has indicated that eventually it would like all hospitals to become one, taking them largely away from the control of the DoH and allowing them to be controlled and run by local people.

In his report Mr Marchment said that given the overall positive performance within the health community he looked to Herefordshire to gain three stars across all health organisations. "Should this be the case, we asked you to consider Foundation Trust status for Hereford Hospital.

"The working relationships across health and social care are, in my opinion, mature and sensible in approach to support such a development,'' said Mr Marchment.

Any application by Hereford Hospital Trust must be fully supported by the PCT and Herefordshire Council.

Chief executive Jeremy Millar said the matter would be considered if and when the County Hospital achieved three star status.