OXFORDSHIRE’S hospitals must keep driving up standards despite being awarded a national vote of confidence by the health sector regulator.

That was the message from bosses after the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust was granted foundation trust status on Thursday.

The decision by health sector regulator Monitor means that it will be more accountable to its patients through a newly appointed board of governors.

However, Monitor warned the trust that it must continue to cut patient waiting times in A&E and for cancer care.

Trust chief executive Sir Jonathan Michael said he was proud of his staff for working so hard to achieve the higher status since he took the top job in 2010.

Sir Jonathan, who is retiring from the role, said the trust will keep driving up care standards.

He added: “It’s all part of the journey of steady improvements. It’s not the end of that journey.

It’s something the trust will wish to continue. We are not going to sit on our laurels.”

The OUHT, which runs the John Radcliffe, Horton and Churchill hospitals as well as the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, will be renamed the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and will be one 152 foundation trusts across the country.

The decisions means the OUHT will move away from central Government control with a new board of governors being appointed which will meet regularly and hold hospital bosses to account.

It will also allow the trust to keep its financial surpluses to invest in new services, to borrow cash and make key decisions on how to improve services to patients.

The decision was welcomed by politicians and health campaigners across the county.

Patient Voice chairwoman Jacquie Pearce-Gervis said: “It is hoped patients will benefit from the flexibility this will bring: doctors coming out to see the patients in rural communities and clinics being more accessible.”

Dr Bruno Holthof will take up the post of chief executive on Monday.

OUHT chairwoman Dame Fiona Caldicott said foundation trust status was a “vote of confidence” for Oxfordshire’s hospitals.

She added: “This will enable us to continue to improve our services by increasing the involvement of patients, staff and communities we serve through our membership.”