Commenting on the proposals, FTN chief executive Sue Slipman said:
“The publication of the proposals to create the NHS Trust Development Authority is a further signal that the Department of Health has got to grips with the significant challenge of helping all NHS trusts to achieve foundation trust status. This will involve supporting those that need it to clear financial, strategic, performance and quality hurdles.
“There is an urgency and momentum that needs to be kept up. The NHS is facing the most significant financial challenge in its history. Public providers of healthcare will only remain afloat if every organisation matches the efficiency and quality of the best.
“And, there will need to be radical changes to the way services are organised and delivered, including closing some hospitals, to maintain and improve the quality of services to patients and to ensure that organisations survive. If not, organisations which are currently successful could be pushed to the brink of failure.”