The Trust’s Council of Governors is a valued and effective body which plays a key role influencing issues that are important to our patients, members and the wider community. It works with the Trust to ensure it provides the highest quality services for our patients.
The Council of Governors is made up of 28 individuals - 23 of them represent members from the Trust’s two constituencies (i.e., the Public Constituency and the Staff and Volunteers Constituency) and the remaining 5 represent organisations that work in partnership with the Trust.
Governors question, challenge and ask for assurances but are not responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation. They work with the Board of Directors to influence the Trust’s future plans, ensuring that the voice of members and partners informs the Trust’s decision-making. Governors are an integral part of the Trust’s Governance Structure.
What is a Governor?
Governors are the voice of the public and staff in the governance of the Trust. They care about improving the delivery of their local health services for the good of the whole community and do so by offering their time to influence these improvements.
They play an essential role in our Trust, providing a link between our members, our community and our Board. Although there are statutory duties that our Governors perform, most importantly, they listen and represent their communities. They help us to learn and develop as a Trust.
Except for those who are nominated by the Trust’s partner organisations, Governors are members of the Trust and are elected by their fellow members in those constituencies with vacancies. It is this unique feature of Foundation Trusts that makes the NHS part of your local democracy.