Airedale Hospital has been authorised as an NHS Foundation Trust.

The decision was revealed by Monitor, the body which regulates NHS Foundation Trusts, after the Trust demonstrated excellent performance on the quality of services it provides.

Becoming a Foundation Trust, which becomes official on June 1, will give the hospital greater freedom to develop services for patients and gives people much more say in decisions about its future.

Airedale NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Adam Cairns said: “This is outstanding news, not only for the Trust and our staff, but for the community.

“I would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard to help us succeed with this achievement.

“Becoming a Foundation Trust will give us greater influence and freedom to innovate and deliver health care most appropriate to our circumstances, making us responsive to the needs of patients.”

Having achieved Foundation Trust status, the organisation, which will be known as Airedale NHS Foundation Trust, will benefit from a variety of new freedoms, including being free from central Government control and being able retain any surpluses they generate to invest in new services The Trust also has an established Council of Governors representing a broad area and skill mix, made up of elected local people, staff and representatives from partner organisations. They will play an important role in the future of the Trust.