Clause 25 - Dissolution etc.
Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Bill
6:45 pm
Mr John Hutton (Minister of State, Department of Health; Barrow and Furness, Labour)
In the event that an NHS foundation trust was dissolved, our intention is that the process should be managed in a way that ensures as little disruption of services to patients as possible. The specific arrangements in individual cases would depend on the circumstances of the failed NHS foundation trust and it is important that the Secretary of State has the flexibility to make any arrangements necessary to secure NHS services. That might include transfer to the Secretary of State when no suitable alternative could be identified and it is desirable to include flexibility in the arrangements. I am sure that my right hon. Friend will be glad to know that the hon. Gentleman is not pursuing a vendetta against him. It is possible that the Secretary of State will make arrangements for the foundation trust to be managed by one of the other bodies identified in the clause.