Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust becomes an Advanced Foundation Trust
Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has been successful in its application process to become one of the first Advanced Foundation Trust's in the country, following a robust assessment by NHS England.
The development of Advanced Foundation Trusts (AFT) is part of a wider vision to reinvigorate the foundation trust model, as set out in the 10 Year Health Plan. Advanced foundation trusts will be the new marker of excellence for providers that drive delivery of the NHS's three shifts: from hospital to community, from analogue to digital, and from sickness to prevention; improve access and health inequalities; and work with partners to improve population health.
For NHFT, the recognition reflects the strength of the partnerships and pathways of care it has built across Northamptonshire and beyond with patients, carers, service users, community and voluntary groups, other NHS providers and local authorities over many years.
Angela Hillery, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is an important milestone for NHFT and a reflection of the commitment of our teams and partners, who work every day to provide safe, quality care and make a difference for the communities we serve.
"Becoming an Advanced Foundation Trust gives us a strong platform to continue innovating, working across organisational boundaries and improving care for local people.
"In Northamptonshire, we are committed to continuing our work with NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board and partners across the system to continue to strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to support the county's population health and improving outcomes."
There is an ambition for all NHS providers to achieve AFT status by 2035. As a first-wave adopter, NHFT will help shape how this model develops in practice. AFT status is expected to bring greater autonomy and financial freedoms, alongside more opportunity to transform and improve care pathways for local communities.
As an AFT, NHFT will also be eligible to hold an Integrated Health Organisation (IHO) contract, which would give it responsibility for improving the health of a defined population and the associated health budget. NHFT is one of two organisations in the first wave of AFTs undergoing this additional assessment, with a decision likely later in the year. NHFT is also working closely with the ICB to explore this together.