Services provided...

Many charitable healthcare providers were founded by religious groups who increasingly face organisational and financial difficulties. HMT has a particular understanding of these problems and can provide sound advice on the options available for the future, while appreciating the difficulties created by change and the inevitable need to modify longstanding working practices.

Experience has shown that the issues on which help is most needed are:

• Guiding owners and non-executive boards on the policies needed to fulfil their ethos and philosophies.
• Ensuring awareness of the complex requirements of the Care Standards Act and its Regulations together with the obligations of charity law.
• Adjusting to the changing demands of clinical practice and technology.
• Ensuring high standards of care through training and quality assurance programmes.
• Matching costs and charges to ensure that adequate provision is made for capital development, maintenance, and equipment needs.
• Introducing appropriate management techniques and support systems.
• Making sure that the services provided are understood and appreciated within the local area.

Practical solutions vary greatly and the Trust makes recommendations only after considering all their implications. We have yet to see two hospitals or homes with the same problems, and we do not expect to introduce a common solution.

What is important is to identify and develop the most appropriate and economically viable structure within the founding ethos of each hospital and home.