Last few days to put yourself forward to represent your community as part of the Council of Governors

Staff, members of the public and patients are encouraged to put themselves forward for election to the Trust’s Council of Governors at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (including West Middlesex University Hospital).

If you live in the City of Westminster, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London Borough of Wandsworth then this is a unique opportunity to help your hospital bring about real benefits for patients by improving healthcare in your local community. There are also seats available for members of staff who work within Allied Health Professionals, Scientific and Technical Class or Support, Administrative and Clerical.

Being part of the Council of Governors is a statutory role, meaning you will help to decide senior appointments to the trust board and have a crucial part to play in determining the future of the organisation and what it needs to do in order to go beyond for our patients.

As well as holding the trust to account, individual governors act as ambassadors for the organisation. They explain the work we do and the achievements we make.

They are also responsible for engaging with members— people who sign up to hear more our trust—and to encourage participation in activities such as our Annual Members Meeting, hospital open days, educational events and ‘Meet a Governor’ sessions.

The great thing about being a governor is that not only do you bring your own expertise and experience to the role, but the trust also provides you with the opportunity to develop your skills.

You do not need specific qualifications—just enthusiasm and the willingness to be involved in improving health services. That said, the description of a foundation trust governor is to be a ‘critical friend’—which means if you have the confidence to ask questions and to communicate with people across the organisation then you are just who we need!

There are a total of seven vacant seats.

• Public governors
  City of Westminster—2 vacant seats
  London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham—1 vacant seat
  Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea—1 vacant seat
  London Borough of Wandsworth—1 vacant seat
• Staff governors
  Allied Health Professionals, Scientific and Technical Class—1 vacant seat
  Support, Administrative and Clerical Class—1 vacant seat

To nominate yourself for election you need to be a registered member of the Foundation Trust.

• Full details on which constituencies are holding elections

You can either register via our website or pick up a form at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital or West Middlesex University Hospital. 

The deadline for nominations is 5pm on Thursday 20 October 2016. For more information, email vida.djelic1@nhs.net or call 020 3315 6716.