uhsm news summer 2012.pub

GOVERNOR NEWS
Chairman’s Update
UHSM achieved Foundation Trust status in
November 2006. This has allowed us to
decide how we deliver services locally, and
makes us accountable to our community
through our members and Governors who
help shape our local services. We currently
have over 13,000 members that we hope
will consider becoming a Governor. Please
read the story to the right to find out more
about this interesting and varied role.
Last month saw us reach a major milestone,
when we achieved a year without a case of
MRSA. Congratulations to all colleagues who
have worked so hard to get rid of this
horrible infection. In all other respects, the
hospital continues to perform well. You may
also have read about our new helicopter!
The air ambulance which was based at
Barton Aerodrome has been relocated to
live with us. This is excellent news for
patients and will also support our ECMO
team who cover the whole of the North.
Research is a key element of life at UHSM,
and is important both to unlock new and
better ways of treating patients, and as a
potential source of income. We have just
signed a memorandum of understanding
with Salford Royal NHS FT to collaborate on
research and development. This will enable
both hospitals to enhance their research
effort and minimise duplication of some of
the routine parts of undertaking this kind of
work. UHSM is proud to be leading the UK
when it comes to recruiting patients for
national clinical research trials.
Felicity Goodey
Become a Governor
If you are interested in learning
more about local health services
and helping to shape them for the
future, then UHSM, which runs both
Wythenshawe and Withington
Community Hospitals, would like
you to consider becoming a
Governor.
Being a Governor enables you to
get involved in the planning of new
services, the annual report and
accounts and how the Trust
engages with members and the
local community. UHSM has had
Governors who live right across the
area including Trafford, central and
south Manchester, Stockport and
Macclesfield and hopes that more
people from these areas and
further afield will consider joining
the team.
Harry Lowe, from Didsbury, has
been a Governor at UHSM for nearly
six years. He says:
"I have really enjoyed being a
Governor as I get to take part in
talks about service provisions and
meet staff in various departments
to get their insight in to how the
Trust can improve and where
processes are working well.
Perhaps the most enjoyable part of
the last year was preparing for the
annual Open Day and judging the
Staff Awards - a recognition of
outstanding achievement in all
parts of the Trust from cleaners to
specialists. I would certainly
encourage others to consider
becoming a Governor as we really
can make a difference at what I
consider to be of the best hospital
Trusts in the country."
"This year, we visited pharmacy
and the critical care unit, where we
were able to have frank discussions
with the specialist staff – a useful
insight into day-to-day problems.
Clinical areas are quite rightly
confidential, but Governors are able
to get a feel of how the trust is run
by taking part in the quarterly
Harry Lowe
UHSM Governor
patient experience action team
(PEAT) inspections, when wards or
departments are looked at critically
for cleanliness, the fabric of the
building, and the quality of the
food. It was a privilege to take part
in the inspection of Buccleugh
Lodge, a facility taking patients out
of hospital beds who need further
rehabilitation before going home."
UHSM is moving in to its sixth year
of being an NHS Foundation Trust
and is holding elections for
Governors to be on its Council of
Governors and represent the views
of members. The Trust has a total
of 32 seats on the Council
consisting of 20 elected Public
Governors, 5 appointed Governors
to represent partner organizations
(such as PCTs and Universities etc)
and 7 elected Staff Governors.
If you are interested in becoming a
Public Governor, please contact
Jenny Noble on 0161 291 2357 or
email jenny.noble@uhsm.nhs.uk.
The closing date for nominations is
September 17. Voting packs will be
issued to members on October 2,
and the results will be published on
October 26.
2 Your Hospital www.uhsm.nhs.uk