The chairman of Monitor (the statutory name of which is the Independent Regulator of NHS foundation trusts) announced last week that, in accordance with section 35 of the National Health Service Act 2006, Monitor had decided to authorise the following NHS acute and mental health trusts as NHS foundation trusts from 1 October:

Milton Keynes Hospital NHS Foundation Trust;

Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust;

North Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust; and

Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

Monitor's announcement brings the total number of NHS foundation trusts to 77. A copy of Monitor's press notice has been placed in the Library.

The Government remain committed to offering all NHS acute and mental health trusts the opportunity to apply for foundation status as soon as practicable. Monitor is now authorising trusts on a monthly basis, and further waves of NHS foundation trusts are set to follow.