Harrogate NHS Health Care Trust has begun its campaign to secure Foundation Trust status.

The trust, which serves a wide area including Ripon, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough, Pateley Bridge and Wetherby, has decided to make a preliminary application for foundation status.

There will be widespread consultation with the public and if the idea is backed, Harrogate could secure the new status by October next year.

The Government is backing the establishment of foundation trusts which would free local trusts from central control, linking their services to special needs in local areas.

Only existing three star acute trusts in England are able to apply, a status recently achieved by Harrogate.

Miles Scott, chief executive of Harrogate Health Care Trust, said as a high performing NHS Trust, Harrogate was being offered investment in new services for areas such as chronic disease management.

The new status could also secure future capital development, accessing national initiatives and securing support from local people.

Mr Scott said: "At the same time, the application process itself is time consuming and would need to be managed so it did not become a distraction from the trust's core business of clinical services."