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.
Reaction
Dr Birju Bartoli, chief executive officer of Northumbria Healthcare, said: ‘Being an advanced foundation trust is testament to all our staff and to their hard work, commitment and drive for excellence and improvement.
‘It also reflects that we are committed to continue to work closely with our wide range of partners and community organisations to deliver the very best care and experience for our patients.
‘This should give patients, our staff and the local communities we serve confidence in our services and confirmation that we continually strive to improve for them all.'
Angela Hillery, chief executive of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: ‘Becoming an advanced foundation trust gives us a strong platform to continue innovating, working across organisational boundaries and improving care for local people.
‘In Northamptonshire, we are committed to continuing our work with NHS Northamptonshire ICB and partners across the system to continue to strengthen the knowledge and skills needed to support the county's population health and improving outcomes.'
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.'
