Oxford's Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre needs foundation status as the next step in its vision for excellence, according to its chairman.

Joanna Foster told a meeting on Wednesday that the board of directors had agreed to apply to become one of the first foundation trusts, so more patients could play a part in the day-to-day running of the hospital.

She said it was important people helped them formalise their final application before it was submitted to the Department of Health next month.

If the NOC won foundation status it would have more freedom to obtain money from the private sector, and be overseen by a group made up of the public, patients, staff and other organisations.

But protesters are campaigning against the plans, which they believe could lead to more privatisation within the health service and less accountability to NHS watchdogs like the county council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

About 15 people went to Wednesday's meeting at Cheney School in Cheney Lane, Headington.

Mrs Foster said: "As a board, we felt that going for foundation trust was absolutely in line with what we had been planning and visioning for the NOC."

Public consultation about the NOC's application ends on Friday, November 2.

Critics opposed to the move have launched an on-line petition at www.nofoundation.org.uk