Foundation Trust Membership

Contents

In this section

Members’ Council

 

Trust Board

 

Elections

 

Foundation Focus

Newsletter for members

What is a Foundation Trust?

A Foundation Trust is a hospital that is in charge of its own finances and strategic development. Although still an NHS hospital, and funded by the local PCT (primary care trust), it governs itself. If run well, the hospital will be able to reinvest its profits into locally decided services or projects that best suit the needs of its patients.

In order to make sure these decisions are in the best interests of the community and patients, the Foundation Trust Membership elect a Members’ Council to fully represent their views and comments.

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Membership

By becoming a member of the Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, you can have a real say in the strategic development of your hospital. Local residents and patients are able to vote in elections for the Members’ Council.

There will be more public representatives on the Members’ Council than staff or appointed members. Public members and staff can stand for election to the Members’ Council and appointed members are those who have been nominated by our partner organisations. By feeding suggestions through to your local Members’ Council representative, your ideas will be heard at Member’s Council Meetings.

The Members’ Council will appoint the Non–Executive Directors of the Board of Directors and appoint its Chairman, who will be the same person as the Chairman of the Members’ Council.

To become a member of the Trust simply complete the online application form by clicking here or contact 0870 707 1549. Public members must be 16 or over and live in Dorset or South Somerset.

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