Our council of governors

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@nhs.net