Agenda item

Find out about the work of the Trust and how you can become a member.

6. Mike Proctor from the NHS Trust gave a presentation outlining the work of the Trust and the benefits of membership.

6.1 York Hospital has had Trust status for two years. Being a Trust gives the hospital the freedom and opportunity to develop its services locally, rather than being governed by the centre.

6.2 It also means that there is an injection of local democracy in the process. 17 of the 32 members of the board of governors are elected.

6.3 The hospital wants to play a more active role in the local community. Everyone is affected by the hospital and requires it at some point in their life.

6.4 Becoming a member costs no more than the price of a stamp. Members receive a newsletter six times a year giving information on the development of the hospital.  You can get involved as much or as little as you like. There are currently around 18,000 members. The Trust needs more members, so take the opportunity to get involved.

6.5 York has a good local hospital but it can be made better with more public involvement.

Call for comments and questions

Q. Health problems differ from region to region. Does York have unique characteristics?

MP: The population of York is well educated, has a good network of GPs , top quality consultants, but an ageing population. No specific conditions other than that the population is getting old.

Q. In the light of the York in Transition video, what impact will climate change have on the NHS?

MP:  The hospitals takes this into account, but having just watched the video, I want them to do more.  We [the hospital/NHS] are massive consumers of energy, and we need to take this into account in any future plans.  By getting involved, you are able to influence this.

Q. I don’t think that the first question was answered.  The purpose of the Trust is accountability. You haven’t specified the unique characteristics of York.

MP: The reason for this is that my business is ill health rather than illness prevention.  Other bodies deal with this.  The local needs in a mixed urban-rural ward is going to be different to Central London.

Q. Following on from that point on illness prevention, surely the gauge for measuring success is a reduction in the numbers of people who need to use the service.  Will this become a priority? – illness prevention over offering cures.

MP: It will be finding alternatives to hospital care. Hospital can be a very dangerous place.  We have no problem being a smaller organisation. We have just got over our worst outbreak of flu and related illnesses for 10 years.

Comment: You don’t get enough praise.  Since the inception of the NHS, life expectancy has increased substantially.

MP: I have been in the NHS for thirty years.  I have seen huge changes for the good, particularly in the last ten years.

Q. I don’t know of any bad experiences.  What co-operation is there with non-hospital cases?

MP: We work very closely with the Primary Care Trust.  They have had problems with finances.