An NHS Foundation Trust, or commonly called a foundation hospital, is a public benefit corporation which is authorised to provide goods and services for the purposes of the National Health Service in England under the Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003. The first 10 such Trusts were approved on 1 April2004, and another 10 were approved on 1 July2004. They are approved and regulated by the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts.
