Foundation Trust and Council of Governors
Last Updated: Sunday, 08 September 2024As an NHS foundation trust, we have a Council of Governors made up of elected public and staff governors and partner governors who represent local organisations that we work closely with.
The Council of Governors helps to hold the Trust to account to local people. They are the link between the hospital and our local communities within Warrington, Halton and other local areas – ensuring that local people can input into decisions and plans.
Governors are involved in shaping and endorsing our strategy, monitoring performance and engaging with the public.
The Council of Governors meets formally four times a year in public and anyone can attend to listen to the meeting. The meeting is chaired by the Trust chair. At the meeting, the governors receive the latest performance information and have the chance to analyse it and raise questions. The formal public Council of Governors meeting programme is a small part of our governors’ work in the Trust.
Our Council of Governors is made up of the following representatives:
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7 public governors - elected by the public members and representing the local community
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5 staff governors - elected by our hospital staff members
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6 partner governors - nominated by organisations we work closely with in Warrington and Halton
Governor Elections
Governor Elections will open on 12 September 2024.
We have the following governor vacancies:
Public: Rest of England – 1 vacancy
Public: Warrington and Halton – 7 vacancies
Staff: Medical and Dental – 1 vacancy
Staff: Support – 1 vacancy
If you would like to find out more about the role or to obtain a nomination pack go online at www.cesvotes.com/whh2024
Please join us for our Annual Members’ Meeting at the Post Graduate Centre Warrington Hospital on Wednesday 2 October 2024 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm.
Governors will host an information stand between 2.30pm and 3.30pm before the Annual Members' Meeting for members considering submitting a nomination to become a governor.
Please come along to meet your governors and find out more about the role.
Governor elections timetable
Notice of Election / nominations open | Thursday 12 September 2024 |
Nominations deadline | Thursday 10 October 2024 |
Summary of valid nominated candidates published | Friday 11 October 2024 |
Notice of poll published | Thursday 31 October 2024 |
Close of election | Tuesday 26 November 2024 |
Declaration of results | Wednesday 27 November 2024 |
Role of a governor
In addition to being on the council, governors also observe the committees of the Trust Board which allows them to bring information and views to the main council meeting. These committees focus on a number of areas including quality in care, finance, people; and communications and membership.
Governors also help us to formulate our annual strategic plan. They hold workshops and survey their members to ensure the plan is in line with public expectations.
They also carry out unannounced ward inspections across the Trust where they monitor standards of care and talk to patients and staff.
They also engage with their local communities and attend other events and meetings to ensure they can put forward views that are representative of their local communities
For more information on the role of a governor, please watch this short video from some of our current governors.
Get in touch with a governor
If you want to find out more about becoming a governor or wish to contact your governor representative, please email whh.foundation@nhs.net with your query or with a request for them to contact you and tell us the area that you live in. You can also call us on 01925 66 2139.
Our governors are happy to come and present, meet or liaise with any community organisation. Please contact us to arrange a meeting.
Our governors also regularly attend events where they are happy to speak with people about their views.
Visit our Foundation trust membership page for information on becoming a public member of our Trust.
Public governors (elected)
Our 17 public governors are elected by our public members split into the following constituencies:
- Warrington North - 5 seats
- Warrington South - 5 seats
- Halton - 5 seats
- Rest of England - 2 seats
There is currently one vacant public governor position in Warrington North and one in Rest of England.
Staff governors (elected)
We have 5 staff governors, elected by hospital staff and representing the five main staff groups at the hospitals.
Partner governors
Working alongside our elected public and staff governors are five stakeholder governors. These governors are nominated by organisations or sectors that we work closely in partnership with. They include our local borough councils, commercial and voluntary sectors.
- Warrington Borough Council, Councillor Maureen McLaughlin
- Halton Borough Council, TBC
- Warrington and Vale Royal College, Nichola Newton
- Warrington Sikh Gurdwara, Mr Mansimran Singh
- Education sector - vacant
- Private sector - vacant