University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) are currently in public consultation on their drive to secure Foundation Trust status, and Andy Hardy, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, briefed VAC members at our Health & Social Care Forum on 29 October. All such acute hospitals are expected to achieve this, and having it gives greater control over their resources, including the local reinvestment of any surpluses. UHCW has recruited 1200 individual members and hopes to increase this to 3500 by next summer, and ultimately 10,000. They are also looking for 23 governors, including 12 members' representatives, 6 of whom would be from Coventry.

For more details of their membership scheme and the consultation on Foundation Trust status, click here www.uhcw.nhs.uk/foundationtrust