THE people of Worcestershire have the chance to have a voice on the future of community and mental health services as NHS bosses make a bid for greater financial freedom.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, which provides community and mental health services across Worcestershire, has launched a consultation on its plans to become an NHS foundation trust.

The trust runs community hospitals in Malvern, Pershore, Evesham, Tenbury and Bromsgrove, children’s services, in-patient and community mental health services, learning disability services, sexual health services, dental health services and offender health services.

Foundation trusts are NHS trusts but are not directed by central government, meaning they can decide for themselves how best to develop and improve local services, and have greater freedom in how they spend public money.

The trust is seeking local views on its ambitions and plans for the future and how it intends to involve local communities in planning and running the organisation once it becomes a FT.

Sarah Dugan, chief executive of Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust, said: “We would like local residents to tell us what they think about our plans.”

The public consultation will end on Sunday, August 12, with the trust aiming for authorisation as a FT by the summer of 2013.

Public members will have the opportunity to stand for election as governors in the public constituency.

Elected public governors will sit on the council of governors – together with elected staff governors and governors appointed by partner organisations – and will work alongside the board of directors. Residents can find out more about the trust’s plans and comment on them by visiting hacw.nhs.uk/ft.

Alternatively they can request a summary version of the NHS foundation trust consultation document by contacting the foundation trust membership office on 01905 681425 or by e-mailing ftoffice@hacw.nhs.uk.