Thousands want part in foundation hospital's fate By Victoria Owen

Health Reporter INUNDATED: NOC chairman Joanna Foster and chief executive Ed Macalister-Smith with the applicationsPicture: Jon Lewis Order No. 216550 MORE than 3,000 patients have jumped at the chance to become more involved in an Oxford hospital if it wins foundation status later this year.

They have all volunteered to become members of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre just two weeks after being invited to join up.

Staff are delighted by the response, after sending letters to 25,000 patients treated within the past year in phase one of a membership recruitment campaign.

With foundation status, a hospital has more freedom from Whitehall control, can get money from the private sector and is overseen by a members' group made up of the public, patients, staff and other organisations.

It is uncertain how most members will become involved in the NOC, but 70 have shown interest in being elected to the members' council, responsible for hiring and firing the hospital trust's non-executive board members and chairman.

Managers have now encouraged other members of the public -- including their critics -- to join up.

NOC chief executive Ed Macalister-Smith said: "It's a fantastic response. They've sent their membership forms so they're all shadow members. Assuming all goes to plan, we should be a foundation hospital by July, and these patients will then become members.

"Anyone who has been a patient in the last three years is entitled to be a member, as well as members of the public in the Thames Valley area. Membership is open to anyone, including those who have challenged the concept of foundation hospitals."

He added: "It's difficult to predict this type of thing, but we had reasonable confidence because we knew many of the patients have a high regard for the hospital, are very fond of it and want to become involved."

The majority of the Headington hospital's patients are from Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties but 30 per cent come from further afield for specialist treatment. Opponents of foundation hospitals believe it could lead to a two-tier health service, more privatisation within the NHS, and less accountability to watchdogs, like the county council's health overview and scrutiny committee.

Mr Macalister-Smith said: "There was criticism that we would never get legitimacy with people wanting to be members, but we've already overturned that. It's a huge endorsement for what we are trying to do."

Anyone who would like to become a member of the NOC can call 0845 408 2989, or download a form at www.noc.nhs.uk