Ashford and St Peter's hospitals get foundation status

A Surrey hospital trust has vowed to be more accountable to the local community after it was given foundation status.

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust was made a foundation trust following a review by independent regulator Monitor.

The trust said the decision would mean people would get a greater say on how the hospitals were run.

Chairman Aileen McLeish said: "This is really good news for our patients, our staff and the local community."

She added: "Foundation Trusts are membership organisations, and we hope that many of our 8,000 members, staff and public, will want to work with us to help us continue to improve the services we offer.

"Our new elected Council of Governors means we will be much more accountable to the local community and we very much look forward to working closely with them."