Who can be a Member?

Becoming a member of our Trust will give you the opportunity to influence the future development of our hospital, to make sure that we meet the needs and expectations of the communities we serve. UHNS is committed to listening to members and ensuring their voice is heard. All members can be assured that their input, however small, will be valued. Patients, staff and the public can become members of the foundation hospital, membership is free of charge and members can decide how they want to be involved. Members will have the opportunity to:

• Receive regular information from the Trust, including a quarterly newsletter.

• A members’ area will be developed on the Trust website, including a forum for questions and answers, access to information about job opportunities at the Trust and the opportunity to get involved in volunteering.

• Participate in focus groups, surveys, fundraising, and mystery shopper activities, helping us to continually improve the care we offer.

• Vote in Governor elections and stand for election as a Governor.

• Attend open days and specific events including hospital tours, public health events.

The membership of the Trust will be representative of the communities it serves and is divided into six constituencies: five public constituencies and a staff constituency. We will ask our key stakeholders to nominate Governors, and public and staff Governors will be elected by ballot by the members in their constituency.

Advisory role: to provide advice and guidance to the Trust Board in relation to the strategic direction of the Trust.
Strategic role: to inform the development of future strategy of the Trust.
Guardianship role: to act as guardian of the Trust on behalf of members and the local community.

Training and education will be available for Governors, to ensure they are supported in their new role.

Governors will be in one of two categories:

• Those elected by the members of the public or staff constituency: Governors representing the public constituency must form over half of the Membership Council; the figure of 20 Governors in this category is based on the size of the population in the area, and approximately equals one Governor per 25,000 population. Governors may hold an office for a maximum period of three years and may serve, on re-election up to a maximum of nine years.

• Governors appointed by a range of partner organisations. These organisations are being proposed to ensure the Membership Council benefits from a wide range of expertise and knowledge from the health and social care, local authority, academic and voluntary sectors.