Foundation Trust application to be delayed by resignation ?

Representatives of the North Cumbria Acute Hospitals trust (which manages West Cumberland Hospital and the Cumberland Infirmary at Carlisle) gave a presentation at the Keswick Neighbourhood Forum this evening about the plans to apply for Foundation Trust status.

One of the issues mentioned was that the leadership of trusts seeking foundation status is reviewed and has to be seen to be strong.

In this context I asked whether the recently announced resignation of Eric Urquhart as Chairman of the Trust will affect or delay the application for FOundation Trustt status.

We were advised that the Trust would have to have their leadership in place before they could gain foundation status, so it is possible that the vacancy might cause some delay.