Trust board and meetings
The Council of Governors represents the views of patients, public members and staff and it comprises elected public and staff members, together with appointed representatives of partner organisations. The governor role is voluntary, and the Council is primarily responsible for assuring the performance of the Board.
Contact your local, staff, or stakeholder governor
Our 21-strong Council of Governors comprises:
Public governors (elected)
Two representing each of the following constituencies: Bracknell Forest and Wokingham, Hart and East Hampshire, Rushmoor, Slough, Surrey Heath and Runnymede, and Windsor and Maidenhead.One representing each of the following constituencies: Guildford, Waverley and Woking, Rest of England (where the Trust provides services), South Buckinghamshire.
Staff governors (elected)
One representing each of the following: Frimley Park Hospital, Heatherwood and community hospitals, Wexham Park Hospital.
Stakeholder governors (appointed)
One representing the Ministry of Defence and three representing local authorities.
Governors influence the strategic direction of the Trust by representing the views and interests of our patients, the local community and our members. This includes people who use our services and their carers, the public, staff and partner organisations.
Governors help develop a representative, diverse and well-involved membership and help improve patient experience.
Your governors bring expertise, enthusiasm, challenge and support to help us abide by our values: Committed to Excellence, Working Together and Facing the Future.
What governors do
- Hold the Trust’s Board of Directors to account for its performance
- Review and approve the pay of the Chair and non-executive directors
- Approve the appointment of the Chief Executive
- Determine the terms of office of the Chair and non-executive directors
- Appoint or remove the Trust’s auditor
- Approve significant transactions (for example mergers)
- Receive the annual report and accounts
- Feed back to the Trust’s Board of Directors on a range of issues
Other responsibilities
- Act as a source of ideas for how the Trust can provide its services in a way that meets the needs of the communities it serves
- Contribute to and are consulted on the Trust’s development plansOversee the Foundation Trust’s membership strategy and encourage membership
- Attend quarterly Board of Directors/Council of Governors workshop events (BoD/CoG’s)
- Select the lead governor of the Council of Governors
What governors don’t do
- Deal with individual complaints
- Have responsibility for running the Trust
- Have a veto over a Board of Directors’ decision
- Have a right to inspect Trust property or services, meet patients or conduct quality reviews
Our Council of Governors is made up of local people who have the important job of holding the Trust’s board of directors to account. They represent the interests of patients, the local community and Trust members.
You can join the Frimley Health Council of Governors by standing for election as a:
- Staff governor if you are employed by the Trust.
- Public Governor if you are a member of the Trust.
- Stakeholder Governor if you have been appointed by one of the Trust’s partner organisations.
Frimley Health staff automatically become members of the Trust on employment. Members of the public considering standing as a Public Governor must become members of the Trust first in order to stand for election. Only members of the Trust may vote in any election to the Council of Governors.
The Frimley Health catchment area is divided into different geographic constituencies and depending on the size of the constituency there may be one or two Public Governors per constituency. Elections are held annually on a staggered basis meaning that not all of the seats become eligible for election at the same time. The term of office for a Governor is three years.
If you are considering standing for election, please contact fhft.companysecretariat@
Our 2025 governor elections are now open. We will be hosting a question and answer session on Thursday 31 July at 5-6pm. If you are interested in joining to find out more about the role and the election process, please follow the link below.
governor election Q&A Thursday 31 July, 5-6pm
Elections are being held for the following governor vacancies:
- Public: Rushmoor - 1 vacancy
- Public: Slough - 1 vacancy
- Public: Bracknell Forest and Wokingham - 2 vacancies
- Staff: Wexham Park Hospital - 1 vacancy
Indicative timetable
Election stage |
Date |
|---|---|
|
Notice of election / nomination open |
Thursday 7 July |
|
Nominations deadline |
Friday 22 August |
|
Summary of valid nominated candidates published |
Tuesday 26 August |
|
Final date for candidate withdrawal |
Monday 1 September |
|
Notice of poll published |
Monday 15 September |
|
Voting packs despatched |
Tuesday 16 September |
|
Close of election |
Thursday 9 October |
|
Declaration of results |
Friday 10 October |
Public Council of Governors’ meetings
The Council of Governors usually meets quarterly at external venues across the Trust’s catchment area as well as at Frimley Park and Wexham Park Hospitals and online via Microsoft Teams.
These meetings are open to the public.
Your Governors have an important part to play by listening to the views of the Trust’s members, the public and other stakeholders, and representing their interests in the Trust, and particularly in meetings with the Board.
Council of governor meetings
| Date | Time | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 1 October 2025 | 6pm - 7.30pm | Board room, Frimley Park Hospital |
| Wednesday 3 December 2025 | 5pm - 6.30pm | Lecture theatre, PGMC, Wexham Park Hospital |