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While remaining firmly and fully within the NHS, Foundation Trust status allows extra freedoms and opportunities. One of the most exciting of these is to involve local people in our activities.

As a Foundation Trust we have a membership base made up from members of the public, patients and our staff. From within this membership we have an elected Council of Governors that is responsible for helping our Board of Directors shape future strategies and plans. Local residents, patients and our staff can become much more closely involved in the running of their hospital services.

All NHS Foundation Trusts require authorisation from NHS Improvement (previously Monitor) which regulates NHS Foundation Trusts. The Trust's Terms of Authorisation and its Constitution can be found on NHS Improvement's website.

The Government set up NHS Foundation Trusts to enable hospitals with good track records to have more freedom from central control and to develop their plans for local services with local people. As a member, you will have a direct influence on how local NHS services are developed for the benefit of you and your family.

Membership is free and after joining it is entirely up to you how involved you become. We will send you newsletters (approximately twice a year) outlining any developments of our services and facilities.

This may be as much involvement as you want, or you may wish to play a more active role by coming to our Council of Governors meetings in public, by voting in elections for our Governors or even standing for election yourself - but all of this is up to you!  We also host Members events throughout the year which are free for Foundation Trust members to attend.