Who we are

We provide healthcare services for people with mental health problems as part of the National Health Service (NHS), which is the publicly funded healthcare system in the United Kingdom.

Foundation Trusts

Foundation Trusts are not-for-profit, public benefit corporations and are part of the NHS. The idea behind NHS foundation trusts is to devolve decision making from central to local organisations and communities. They provide and develop healthcare according to core NHS principles - free care, based on need and not ability to pay

Primary Care Trusts

Primary care is the care provided by your GP, dentist, optician or pharmacist when you first have a health problem. NHS walk-in centres and the NHS Direct phone line service are also part of primary care. All of these services are managed by your local primary care trust (PCT). Your PCT will work with local authorities and other agencies that provide health and social care locally to make sure that your local community's needs are being met.

Strategic Health Authorities

These health authorities manage the local NHS on behalf of the Secretary of State and are a key link between the Department of Health and the NHS. They are are responsible for developing plans for improving health services in their local area, making sure local health services are of a high quality and are performing well, increasing the capacity of local health services - so they can provide more services, and making sure national priorities are integrated into local health service plans.

Special Health Authorities

Special health authorities are health authorities that provide a national service to the NHS or the public, under section 11 of the NHS Act 1977. They are independent, but can be subject to ministerial direction like other NHS bodies.

Monitor

Monitor is the independent regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts.

Department of Health

The Department of Health is responsible for:

  • Securing management and accountability of the overall health and social care system, in particular Ministers' accountability to Parliament

  • Developing policy and project managing major change

  • Overall regulation and inspection of the NHS (increasingly at arms length through organisations such as the Commission for Health Improvement)

  • Intervention, should problems occur in the running of the NHS at any level.

Organisational Structure

More information about South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, including the Board, the Members' Council, management teams and our partners.