MEMBERS of the public are being invited to get involved in the running of Warrington Hospital – by becoming a hospital governor.
North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Warrington and Halton General hospitals, is to hold elections for the first-ever public and staff hospital governors in September – as part of its move towards NHS Foundation status.
A key part of becoming a Foundation Trust is making the hospitals more accountable to local people rather than to central government.
Members of the public can become hospital governors to represent the community in decisions around the hospitals and their future strategy. Governors will work alongside the trust board to help make decisions about hospital priorities.
More than 5,500 members of the public have already joined the hospitals as part of the free Foundation Trust membership scheme which allows them to vote in elections and also stand for election as governors themselves if they want.
Sixteen public governors will be elected to represent Warrington, Runcorn, Widnes and surrounding areas. They will be joined by staff governors and partner governors to form a Governors Council for the two hospitals. Public governors will be elected by the members in the areas they live.
Would-be governors must be members of the Foundation Trust by July 11 – the cut off point to be eligible to vote or stand in the first elections.
Nomination forms for people interested in standing for election will be sent out in late July with the elections taking place by post in September. About 200 members have already expressed an interest in standing for election as a governor.
To join the hospitals as a member and find out more about the role of governors, visit the hospitals’ website at www.northcheshirehospitals.nhs.uk or email at [email protected] or call on 01925 275249 for further information.
Catherine Beardshaw, chief executive of the Trust said:
“This is an exciting opportunity for the public to get really involved in their hospitals.”
The hospitals hope to gain approval to become a Foundation Trust by the end of the year and are currently mid-way through the application process. Anyone over the age of 12 can become a member but it is necessary to be 16 to stand as a governor. More information is available on the Foundation Trust pages at www.northcheshirehospitals.nhs.uk
MEMBERS of the public are being invited to get involved in the running of Warrington Hospital - by becoming a hospital governor.
Get involved – be a hospital governor
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Gary Skentelbery
Experienced journalist for more than 40 years. Managing Director of magazine publishing group with three in-house titles and on-line daily newspaper for Warrington. Experienced writer, photographer, PR consultant and media expert having written for local, regional and national newspapers. Specialties: PR, media, social networking, photographer, networking, advertising, sales, media crisis management. Chair of Warrington Healthwatch Director Warrington Chamber of Commerce Patron Tim Parry Johnathan Ball Foundation for Peace. Trustee Warrington Disability Partnership. Former Chairman of Warrington Town FC.
