A health trust has announced it is applying for foundation status.

The Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, which provides specialist mental health, learning disability and substance misuse services for East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, made the decision earlier this week.

The change will give the trust greater freedom from Whitehall and it will be allowed to borrow money if it wants to develop any of its services.

Thousands of people will also have the chance to become members of the new foundation trust and a board of governors will be elected from the members.

Only trusts which have shown they are meeting government performance targets and are managing their finances well are given the chance by the Department of Health to apply.

Trust chief executive Lisa Rodrigues said: "We are passionate about putting people first. Foundation trusts have links with local people through members and governors so it is a natural progression for us.

"Being a foundation trust would help us to develop new services in Sussex and to challenge the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health services by working even more closely with partners in other public agencies and local businesses.

"We want to put people in control of their lives and to promote well-being. I hope and believe that the people we serve in Sussex and our excellent staff will support our application by signing up as members of the foundation trust."

There will be public consultation on the proposed constitution and governance arrangements before the formal application goes to the Department of Health later in the year.

The trust employs 5,000 staff, provides services from around 200 sites across the county and spends £214 million a year.

Earlier this month East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Eastbourne District General Hospital and the Conquest Hospital in St Leonards, announced its intention to apply to become a foundation trust.

The specialist Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead was one of the first trusts in England to be given foundation status in 2004.

The trusts will learn next year whether they have been successful.