Patient power at hospitals

The public could have a say in the running of the Royal Hallamshire

Patients, staff and the public could be given a greater say in how hospitals in Sheffield are managed.

Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust has revealed the plans as part of its bid to become one of the first of the government's new foundation trusts.

Under the proposals, local people would be able to become members of a new "governors' council" which will work with managers in setting priorities for the hospitals.

The trust manages the Northern General, the Royal Hallamshire, Jessop Wing, Weston Park and Charles Clifford hospitals in Sheffield.

'Exciting concept'

As foundation trusts, hospitals would be free of many of the controls currently imposed by Whitehall although they would remain part of the NHS.

Andrew Cash, the chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said the idea of bringing the public into the making of strategic decisions was "an exciting concept".

"We see this as a real opportunity to involve local people in the running of their hospitals," he added.

"If Sheffield Teaching Hospitals becomes an NHS foundation trust it will mean our local public, patients and staff can have a real say in the running of their hospital."

Consultations on these new plans will take place over the next 10 weeks.