The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital Trust is struggling to reach Foundation status, which would give it more freedom and the public a bigger say in how services are run.

The target was next year but a report going to its board says the organisation is not on course to achieve this. Board members will be asked on Thursday to review the trust’s current FT timetable, identifying the strengths but also the “weaknesses and challenges”.

A proposal outlining the milestones and expected progress over the next two years will need to be drawn up this month and submitted to the regional health authority.

Trust chairman, Dr John Davies will also have to inform the Health Secretary of a new FT application timetable by November 30. The Government wants all NHS trusts to become Foundations within the next three years.

Those that don’t will be taken over by an organisation that has achieved the status.

The particular risk is not mentioned in the report but it is one the drivers behind moves to radically change the way services are provided across the Royal Shrewsbury and Princess Royal sites.

To obtain FT status the trust will need to prove that it is financially sustainable and the report shows finance has a ‘red’ rating.

A separate finance report shows the sort of problems it currently faces.

For example at the end of September the trust had a deficit of £1.095 million against planned surplus of £1.497 million.

It was overspent by £514,000 on pay, of which 27 per cent was due to an overspend on junior medical staff. Agency costs rose in September to £576,000 for the month.

However a key strength for the organisation is that its chief executive, Adam Cairns, who joined in the summer, has a great deal of experience of the FT process and led a successful bid by his former trust.

He said in a recent newsletter that his goal for the Shrewsbury and Telford Trust was for it to become an organisation that people were proud of, that aimed to provide safe, effective, dignified and compassionate care every time.

He added: “If we do this with real energy and determination, then we will become a FT by 2013.”

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris