They are: Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust; Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust; Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust; Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust; and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Announcing the news, NHS England said: ‘Those who pass our assessment will benefit from greater strategic and operational autonomy, recognising their high capability and empowering their leaders to drive accelerated change and improvement on behalf of their patients and staff.'

Advanced foundation trusts also have the opportunity to be designated as integrated health organisations (IHO) to oversee the health budget for a defined local population.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust are currently undergoing additional assessment for IHO status.

Organisations designated as IHOs in 2026 will work with NHS England and their commissioners to co-develop the model during 2026/27 with the first expected to go live in 2027.

A second wave of candidates to be assessed for AFT status will be announced shortly.

All trusts are expected to become advanced foundation trusts by 2035.

Director of policy at The NHS Alliance, Dr Layla McCay, said: ‘Experience from the foundation trust model shows that granting autonomy only works when national bodies are clear about their intent and consistently committed to enabling local freedoms over time.

‘Without this sustained commitment, those freedoms risk being eroded, and it is notable that this initiative coincides with moves to reduce the statutory freedoms that have underpinned the foundation trust model via the NHS Modernisation Bill.'