---

Hospital Trusts (Essex)

I have to say that I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman. While I respect his views about his local trust, the regulator identified a number of performance and governance concerns, and it asked for a process of improvement at the trust. That did not follow within the time scale requested. I will defend the regulator in taking firm action, where standards need to rise. The hon. Gentleman will know that the foundation trust model allows patients to become members of a trust and to hold it to account. I encourage him and his constituents to use the voice that that reform gives them to hold their local trust to account and have their say in the delivery of local health care.