26.11.10
Circle named as preferred partner to run first franchised NHS trust
The East of England Strategic Health Authority has selected Circle, the employee-owned social enterprise, to take over the delivery of NHS services at Hinchingbrooke Hospital.
Circle have a unique partnership model, where everyone from the consultants to the cleaners are co-owners in the business, as well as their track record in turning round NHS services by empowering front-line employees.
Employing over 1,000 seconded NHS staff and treating more than 130,000 patients each year, Circle’s NHS day-surgery hospitals in Nottingham and Burton delivered over 20% productivity gains in their first year of Circle operation, at the same time as improving patient outcomes to four times better than the national benchmark, patient satisfaction to 99.4% and staff satisfaction to 91%.
Dr Stephen Dunn, Director of Strategy at NHS East of England, said: “ Circle’s partnership model and track record of turning around NHS services make them our preferred partner to transform the first NHS Trust to be franchised. We are impressed by the way Circle devolve decision making to those closest to patients, and empower doctors, nurses and all staff to innovate to deliver better care for their patients.”
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