Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust seeks Foundation Trust members
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking people who are willing to get involved and contribute their ideas about for how health care is planned and managed.
St James's, the Leeds General Infirmary, and local hospitals in Chapel Allerton, Seacroft and Wharfedale are all managed by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. These hospitals want to become part of a not-for-profit, public benefit corporation (like the Co-op) that stays part of the NHS. This type of organisation is called a Foundation Trust.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is asking people to join the Foundation Trust as members. It's free to do this and it needn't take a lot of time. Members can be involved as much or as little as they like, but everyone will get a newsletter and invitations to talks about health.
If the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is successful in getting to be a Foundation Trust, it will also need to have Governors elected by public and NHS staff members. Governors will sit on a Council that will work alongside the existing Board of Directors.
"If people just want to hear about what's going on and be invited to talks about health that's fine, but if they have views about how things should be done, membership is the most effective way to make their voice heard. This means they can vote for and work with Governors, or even by becoming a Governor themselves," says Ross Langford of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The hospital website provides more information about Foundation Trust status and how to be a member. There is an online application form.
Posted in: Higher education news