Annual Report and Accounts - The Great Western Hospital

5 NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CODE OF
GOVERNANCE
5.1 Council of Governors
5.1.1 Governors
The Council of Governors consists of 19 elected and nominated governors who provide an important
link between the Trust, local people and key stakeholders by sharing information and views that can
be used to develop and improve health services.
Four public constituencies exist to cover the Trust’s catchment area namely: -
Swindon;
Wiltshire;
West Berkshire and Oxfordshire; and
Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.
Governors for these areas are elected by members of those constituencies in accordance with the
election rules stated in the Trust’s Constitution using the “first past the post” voting system. Elections
are carried out on behalf of the Trust by the independent Electoral Reform Services Ltd. There are 10
public governor positions (Swindon – 5, Wiltshire – 3, West Berkshire and Oxfordshire - 1, and
Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset – 1). In addition there are 3 elected staff
governors and 6 governors nominated by organisations that have an interest in how the Trust is run.
The number of public governors must be more that half of the total membership of the Council of
Governors.
In 2011/12 the Trust reviewed its public constituencies based on its new geographical area as a result
of taking on board Wiltshire Community Health Services. The West Berkshire, Gloucestershire and
Oxfordshire constituency was initially expanded in June 2011 to incorporate Bath and North East
Somerset and then split out in August 2011 to create the two constituencies referred to above.
In 2012/13 it is planned that the Wiltshire Constituency will be split into three constituencies with an
increase in the number of public governors. This will provide better local representation of the
Wiltshire area. Furthermore, the Trust has a wide range of staff undertaking a variety of roles and
professions. In 2011/12 the Trust supported the establishment of classes within the staff constituency
to reflect occupational areas. This amendment is proposed to be implemented in 2013.
During 2011 the Trust considered its other partner governors and whether there should be
representation from third sector organisations reflecting the Trust’s involvement in this area. It was
agreed that the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce should be replaced with Prospect Hospice as
a partner organisation for the purposes of nominating a governor to the Council of Governors.
The names of governors during the year, including where governors were elected or appointed and
their length of appointments are set out in the following tables. The Trust held elections in all
constituencies during the year for governors whose terms of office expired. There was an average
turnout of 35% across all constituencies which is a 6% increase on last year. The re-elected and
newly elected Governors were formally appointed to office at the Council of Governors meeting held
on 23 November 2011.
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