Seats to be contested as Bradford hospital trust looks for new governors (From Wharfedale Observer)

Seats to be contested as Bradford hospital trust looks for new governors

11:00am Sunday 27th January 2013 in Local news

People from Wharfedale and Aireborough are invited to contest seats on a Bradford hospital trust’s Council of Governors.

The terms of office of 13 Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust governors will come to an end on March 31, and the trust is looking for new governors.

Two public seats within Bradford Council’s Shipley Area will be contested, as well as one in the Keighley constituency, while two seats will also be available for people living outside the Bradford area.

Four health professionals’ seats will also be contested in the election.

The Trust runs Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital, Bradford, but also provides services in the community, including doctors, nurses, midwives and physiotherapists.

It provides services from many different locations such as GP practices, community hospitals and other neighbouring hospitals in Airedale, Halifax and Huddersfield.

Chairman David Richardson said: “Governors reflect members’ interests and work on their behalf to improve services by providing an important link between our hospitals and the local community, helping us to gather views from local people and feeding back to them what is happening in the Foundation Trust.

“The job requires time and commitment and while no special experience, skills, education or qualifications are required, candidates do need to have an interest in health service policy and keep pace with the key strategic issues facing the Foundation Trust.”

Governors’ responsibilities include: reflecting the interests of members and gathering views about the Foundation Trust’s services, contributing to the Trust’s future direction, appointing external auditors, selecting the chairman and non-executive, attending meetings, developing the membership strategy and advising the board of directors on a range of issues.

Completed governor nomination forms need to be submitted by February 7. Where a seat is contested, elections will be held and voting will take place between February 27 and March 19.

Nomination packs are available from Caroline Hinchcliffe, Electoral Reform Services Ltd, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Road, London N8 0NW, on (0208) 8899203, or e-mail caroline.hinchcliffe@electoral reform.co.uk.