Agenda item

There will be a presentation on the Trust’s first year and information on how you can become a member.

Patrick Crowley, Chief Executive of the NHS Foundation Trust spoke about what the Trust has been doing, where it hopes to go in the future and encouraged residents of the ward to become members.  The following points were noted:

5.1       The hospital became a foundation trust in April 2007 which is good for two reasons; 1) it allows the hospital to have much more autonomy in how it delivers health services, 2) it allows the hospital to recruit a membership to whom they are accountable.

5.2       Every member of hospital staff, everyone who lives in the York and Selby catchment area and anyone who was treated in York Hospital in the 3 years prior to it becoming a foundation trust is eligible to become a member.  So far the trust has around 18,000 members making it one of the largest foundation trusts in the country.

5.3       The trust has a board of governors elected by its members who are accountable to the local community.  Any member of the trust can stand to be elected as a governor. 

5.4       The trust has eight key objectives; 1) focus on patient safety and improving patient experience, 2) improved performance, 3) provide sufficient capacity to meet demand, 4)  be a provider of choice, 5) look after the workforce, 6) develop and agree a strategic vision for clinical services, 7) develop the site to improve the environment in which we deliver care, 8) improve communication, consultation and public engagement.

5.5       The trusts current priorities are increasing bed numbers, improving staffing, improving safety for patients and reducing waiting times. 

5.6       The trust is currently seeing the majority of patients within 18 weeks of referral from the GP but want to improve on this.

5.7       The trust is endeavouring to redevelop the hospital.  There has been a temporary set back with the multi-storey car park but this is now back on track.  This will be the first stage in redeveloping the site.  Residents are urged to be patient during the building of the car park, the situation will get worse before it gets better but it is important to keep the end result in mind.

Residents asked the following questions:

a)  Does registering as a member mean you become part of a committee?

Response was given that no, members are not part of a committee but they are able to vote to elect governors and stand to be elected as a governor themselves.

b)  The term membership implies ‘exclusivity’.  Don’t you think this gives out the wrong message?

Response was given that recruiting a membership is a statutory obligation of being a foundation trust.  Being a member enables people to tell the trust what its priorities should be. 

c) Will the new multi-storey car park be for staff or visitors?

Response was given that the majority of the car park will be for visitors.  The trust have a staff travel plan which encourages staff not to drive to work.  There will however be a number of spaces available for staff as there will always be some staff who need to be guaranteed a space.  The cycle lane facilities adjacent to the hospital will also be improved.