Hereford Hospital Needs Your Help
County Hospital to become a Foundation Trust - InSITE Correspondent Hannah Packwood Reports
B
y 2008 the government wants every NHS hospital to become a Foundation Trust. This allows independence and control, with management remaining in the local area.
What does this mean to us?
It means that Hereford County Hospital will be controlled by the people who work within it,, manage it and use it. It gives financial control and independence so that monies can be used where most needed.
This is all well and good but…
It can’t be achieved without help from the people it will benefit. The hospital needs the support of the community in setting up a membership body and a governing body to reflect the people it serves in Herefordshire and the surrounding areas, including parts of Powys.
Your local hospital would like to find 2,000 non-staff members, aged from fourteen years, before the start of the New Year.
What do I have to do?
Very little – just apply online at: http://www.herefordhospital.nhs.uk/FoundationTrustStatus/BecomeaMember/tabid/73/Default.aspx
or send for a form. (01432 364000 or www.herefordhospital.nhs.uk) You will then start to receive information about the hospital, help to elect the Council of Governors, participate in focus groups to find and fix problems and more. If you are interested in becoming one of 27 governors on the Council of Governors you must first become a member and then stand for election. The Council of Governors represent the members and the local community. In becoming a governor you will get a say in many aspects that will affect the hospital, the voices of young people would be greatly appreciated and wholly listened to.
I’m only fourteen…
Young people especially are asked to get involved to give the younger sector a voice. Helping your hospital will also benefit you, giving an insite into what goes on in a hospital for those wishing to join the medical/caring professions, a great reference for those job and university cv’s and for giving something back to your local community.
Whilst you may not have actually been in close contact with the hospital yourself it is something that just might benefit us all at some point and of course, those we love, i.e. our family and friends. Becoming a member means that with little time or effort you could make the hospital a better place for everyone.
There are also great opportunities in becoming a member, especially for younger people. It truly gives us a say into all aspects of the hospital. For example we could say that we want different sections for different ages in the hospital, this idea could then be put forward for consideration by the Trust Board of Directors. Another point is that in becoming a member you may also be able to benefit your future career. For example, those striving to become the next medical sensations could put forward a request to perhaps tour the hospital, meet specific people or even perhaps look at particular aspects of the hospital, i.e. an operating theatre or the Mortuary – depending on bravery levels. It is fantastic opportunity and it will allow everyone to have their say and get their point across.
It is essential for all of us that we support our local hospital to become a Foundation Trust to make it a place where you would want to work, and want friends and family to be treated because of the excellence of care offered. Download a form now!
For further information please contact Katrina Wilcox on 01432 372 928 or email Katrina.Wilcox@hhtr.nhs.uk
Calling all young designers!
This could be your first major design scoop! A big plus for your cv or university application.
The leaflet produced to encourage people to become members of their local hospital is less than young people friendly!
Create a leaflet to encourage young people to become involved with their local hospital, telling them what it is all about and what they might gain from it and how a little time and interest given now will benefit their friends and family and the future of Hereford Hospital.
Download a form from www.herefordhospital.nhs.uk, change the style, text, colour etc. etc. etc. and submit it, on line, to Katrina Wilcox, Head of Corporate Affairs @ Katrina.wilcox@hhtr.nhs.uk.
