Royal Surrey invites Foundation Trust members to find out more about becoming a governor

The Royal Surrey County Hospital is running a series of workshops for any members interested in becoming a governor.

Anyone wishing to become a governor of their local hospital Foundation Trust can come along to the prospective governor workshops, which will be held at the hospital.

As an NHS Foundation Trust, the Royal Surrey will have a Council of Governors made up of elected public and patient governors, staff governors and appointed governors.  The governors are elected by the members of the Foundation Trust to sit on the Council of Governors. The role of the Council is to advise the Board of Directors on future service plans and ensure the Board of Directors is kept informed of the views of the public, patient and staff members and of the partner organisations.

The governors are also responsible for appointing the Chairman and Non Executive Directors and approving the appointment of the Chief Executive for all future appointments.

The workshops will be held at the following times:

Wednesday, 25^th March - 10.30am to 12pm

Thursday 26^th March - 7 to 8.30pm

Monday 30^th March - 7 to 8.30pm

Monday 6^th April - 7 to 8.30pm

Tuesday 7^th April - 7 to 8.30pm.

All the workshops will be held in Room B1, Education Centre, Royal Surrey County Hospital, Egerton Road, Guildford.

To find out more or to confirm attendance at the workshops please call either Joanne Green on 01483 571122 ext 2318 or Lisa Ward 01483 408337.

Chief Executive Nick Moberly said:

"We have had an overwhelming number of local people and patients sign up for membership and with our staff members we now have around 14,500 members.  I want to say a big thank you to all those people have signed up and encourage anyone who does want to get more involved and are interested in becoming a governor to attend one of the workshops."

The Royal Surrey County Hospital has had its application approved by the Strategic Health Authority  - NHS South East Coast.  The next stage of the process is to gain support for the application from the Health Secretary Alan Johnson.  If he supports the application, the Trust will be referred to the Independent Regulator Monitor.  Monitor will then carry out a three-month assessment and if the Trust passes all these assessments it is hoped that Foundation Trust status will be granted in August 2009.