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What is a Governor?

Governors provide an important link between the hospital and the local health community, enabling us to gather views from local people and to feedback what is happening within the Trust. They reflect your interests and are working on your behalf to improve health services for the future. By passing on ideas and suggestions you can help them carry out their role effectively. Governors do not have any administrative powers in the hospital, but they have Statutory responsibilities, which are set out in the National Health Act 2006. Governors are also expected to follow the requirements of the Code of Governance published by Monitor, the Independent Regulator for Foundation Trusts.

What is the Council of Governors?

The full Council of Governors comprises two groups. The first group is elected by members from their own area. These are called constituencies. The second group are听 appointed by key organisations that work closely with the Trust. The elected Governors are in the majority. Currently the Council of Governors has 27 Governors. There are 15 elected Public Governors from seven constituencies, which make up the Trust's catchment area, and six Staff governors. There are five nominated Governors representing various stakeholders.

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What is the role of the Council of Governors?

The Council of Governors monitors the performance of the Trust, and the Trust Board is accountable to the Council of Governors. In addition, Governors have a wider role which includes ensuring that the local community and staff have a greater say in how services are developed and delivered by the 91影视 NHS Foundation Trust.

Our Constitution
Code of Governance
Standing Orders

What do Governors do?

Governors have two roles - statutory duties that they have to carry out and non-statutory duties that are carried out in agreement between the Trust and the Governors, in accordance with the National Health Act 2006.

The statutory duties include:

Selecting and appointing the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
Approving the appointment of a Chief Executive
Approving the salary of the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
Advising the Trust Board of Directors on a range of issues
Attending meetings of the Council of Governors
Appointing the Trust's External Auditor
Receiving annual reports and accounts
Holding the Trust Board of Directors to account

The non-statutory duties which have been developed so far:

Participating in Governor working groups and contributing to Governor activities
Assessing the patient and visitor experience and helping in the development of improvement programmes
Understanding the requirements of the Code of Governance for NHS Foundation Trusts published by Monitor
Developing the membership strategy and increasing membership
Publishing a quarterly newsletter distributed to all members
Giving talks to interested public groups, clubs and societies
Discussing the hospital's future development

What Governors can't do

While welcoming ideas, suggestions and general comments, it is not the job of Governors to deal with individual personal complaints about the hospital, or the care and treatment received. In the first instance verbal advice can be sought from the Customer Care Department. Any formal complaint should be made in writing to the Chief Executive, not to Customer Care or a Governor. They should draw to the Trust Board's attention any discernible trend that is causing concern.

Staff Governors

Please note that Staff Governors are elected by staff members so that their particular views and comments can be used to shape the development of hospital services, enhance patient care or the working lives of staff. It is not their role to deal with any personal issues staff may be involved with. For example disciplinary procedures or changes to their contract. They are not in a position to deal with situations normally dealt with through personnel, staff-side organisation or trade unions.

Staff Governor Role:

Governors' responsibilities towards members

To ensure a Foundation Trust portal is maintained on the Trust's website
To let members know who the elected and appointed Governors are by making the relevant information available on the Trust website and in the quarterly newsletters
To ensure that members know how they can contact a Governor and that the Governor will respond
To circulate 'Governor selected' information via quarterly newsletters or email
To seek membership feedback when appropriate
To pass on to the Trust Board any complaint or observation from a member for action by the Trust
To hold Public meetings and an Annual General Meeting
To hold the Trust Board accountable for the performance of the Trust
To ensure the Trust's forward plans remain appropriate and achievable
To individually develop their knowledge of the Trust and the services provided, facilitated by the Trust

Governors' responsibilities towards stakeholders

To ensure the Trust has a good working partnership with its stakeholders
Nominated Governors are responsible for informing their organisations (currently Wiltshire County Council, Council for Voluntary Services) about the Trust's performance and to inform the Council of Governors of their organisations' views
Staff Governors are responsible for keeping staff members informed and also for feeding back views expressed by staff
To work with the Patient and Public Involvement Forum, either directly or in conjunction with Customer Care
To consider further and wider stakeholder involvement

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