Patients served celebratory treat

A special meal was served up for patients at Cannock and Stafford's main hospitals as part of celebrations for them achieving foundation trust status.

They were offered a choice of salmon alongside the usual menu choices and balloons were put up in the reception areas of Cannock Chase and Staffordshire General hospitals.

Patients and staff in the rehabilitation workshops at Cannock Chase Hospital created a giant, wooden 'F' and 'T' to put in the reception area and a certificate was given to one of the first babies born in the maternity unit at Stafford Hospital after the 'birth' of the FT.

Mid Staffordshire General Hospitals NHS Trust is now Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and Staffordshire General will be re-named Stafford Hospital. Trust chief executive Martin Yeates said: "I would like to thank the public and staff for the overwhelming support they have given to our bid to win FT status.

"I also pay particular tribute to our 3,000 staff, who have had to do a tremendous amount of extra work to provide information needed by Monitor and to make sure we were achieving all the standards required to become an NHS FT – as well as coping with a lot of changes we have had to make over the last two years.

"We have been on a remarkable journey as we aimed to achieve our aim of becoming a Foundation Trust.

"And today, after a rigorous process to check on our financial stability and our arrangements for ensuring the quality and safety of our healthcare, I am delighted to say 'we did it!'"

Anybody interested in more information about the new Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust or becoming a member should contact the membership office on 01785 230978, email membership@msgh-tr.wmids.nhs.uk or visit the trust's website www.midstaffs.nhs.uk