Health Foundation

The Health Foundation is a "charitable foundation working to improve the quality of healthcare across the UK and beyond."

Its stated aim is to help "shape a future healthcare system that offers safe, effective and responsive care for all". It does this "in partnership with others".

Lobbying

The Health Foundation employs three lobbying companies in the UK:

• Hill & Knowlton
• Greenhaus Communications (Scotland)
• Chambré Public Affairs (Northern Ireland)

History

The Health Foundation has been around in various guises since 1983, when it was first launched as the PPP Medical Trust. The PPP Medical Trust Ltd was formed initially as the corporate charitable donations function of Private Patients Plan Limited (PPP), a commercial private healthcare insurance company. It was financed by a covenanted donation from the PPP Company of £350,000 p.a. for three years.

In 1998 the Trust became a significantly endowed, fully independent healthcare charitable trust, as a result of the sale of the PPP Healthcare group of companies to Guardian Royal Exchange (GRE) Insurance. The Trust was endowed with the proceeds of the sale, amounting to some £540 million. Sir Peter Gadsden became the Trust's first Chairman.

The Foundation relaunched in July 2003 with a new name ‘The Health Foundation’, a new logo and identity, and new offices at 90 Long Acre, Covent Garden. Sir David Carter became Chairman. By the end of 2004, the value of the Foundation’s endowment was £538 million.