Publish date: 17 July 2023
Leighton and Victoria Infirmary Hospitals, part of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MCHFT), are asking members of their local communities to join the Council of Governors to help shape and improve services as both sites face significant development opportunities.
Governors play a vital role in representing the views of their local communities, working with the Board to ensure that the voice of patients, public and staff are included in service design and development.
Governors are elected by local Trust members in their constituencies and serve in three-year terms. Elections are now open and adults aged 16+ with a keen interest in their local hospitals are asked to nominate themselves for one of the available vacancies:
Public: Northwich and Region (2 vacancies)
Staff: Nursing and Midwifery (1 vacancy)
Governors are also involved in observational tours of wards and departments, participating in patient-led inspections of the care environment and seeking performance assurance from the Board of Directors – as well as helping the Trust to shape its future priorities and plans. The Trust manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe, Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, Central Cheshire Integrated Care Partnership (CCICP) and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford and has a Council of 28 elected and nominated Governors. The majority are directly elected from and by the foundation trust members (public and staff).
Governors provide their time on a voluntary basis and do not need specific qualifications or knowledge of the NHS for the role, other than a commitment to represent their constituents to the best of their ability. An induction programme and on-going training is provided to those that are newly elected.
Professor Carolyn Wilkins, Trust Chair, said:
“We are really looking forward to welcoming new Governors to the Trust. Being a Governor is a vital role that is not only rewarding but a key element in helping achieve the Trust’s objectives. This is a particularly exciting time for the Trust with the recent announcement of funding to build a brand new Leighton Hospital.
“I encourage members of our community to take up this opportunity to learn new skills, receive training and development and help make a real difference to their local hospital at a critical time for our NHS.”
The Trust is holding a number of ‘Meet your Governor’ events during the summer across a variety of locations, providing the opportunity to hear about the experiences of some of the Trust's current Governors and to ask questions about the role and the election process. For a list of the dates, please visit www.mcht.nhs.uk/elections.
More information is available from the Membership Office, email: corporate.governance@mcht.nhs.uk or telephone 01270 612453.
