NHS Foundation Trusts - Support your local hospitals. Become a member

NHS Foundation Trusts are now the main type of organisation established to run NHS hospitals. They are set up in a way that makes them more answerable and accountable to their local communities. This means that as we plan to develop hospital services we will need to involve our public, patients and staff in the decision making process.

The Trust plans to become a Foundation Trust in 2013. In becoming a Foundation Trust The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust will become a membership organisation. Our membership will be very important to us. Members can make a real difference by helping us make the right decisions on our plans and developments and they can help develop services that benefit the needs of our patients and the local communities.

To date, we have over 7,500 public and patient members and we are looking to recruit a further 2,500 members who, along with our staff members, will elect a Council of Governors. The Council of Governors will advise The Trust Board on how the trust should provide and improve services and help ensure that it stays true to the core NHS values and principles.

The Trust has produced a 5 minute film about its proposals to become a NHS Foundation Trust. We are asking our patients and the public to register to become a member and support your local hospitals. Membership is free, with no obligation and is open to anyone aged 14 and over who lives in England. The film is available on YouTube - click here.

For more information or if you would like to support your hospital and become a member - click here to complete our online membership form or call us on 01706 517302 or email at ft.membership@pat.nhs.uk