Being a Member

Please read the Short GUIDE to Membership or complete the application form below.

• Become a member of the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  Complete our online application form by clicking on the link above
  

• Foundation Trust Membership Application Form  
  Please print off a copy of this form, complete, and return to the address at the bottom of the form
  
  

A Short Guide to Membership

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust runs services at Gloucestershire Royal, Cheltenham General, and Delancey Hospitals providing acute care for the most seriously ill people in Gloucestershire, also specialist cancer services to people from Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

• A new kind of NHS organisation with more freedom to meet local needs and priorities.
  
  
• Treatment in our hospitals will still be free - It does not mean privatisation.
  
  
• You, your family and friends can be Members of the Foundation Trust and be involved in the work of your hospitals in Gloucestershire.
  
  
• As a Member you will be able to nominate yourself or vote for a Governor who will be your representative and have a direct link to the Board of Directors.
  
  
• The Trust will still be required to meet national targets on treatment times and in other areas, like cleanliness and food quality.
  

• The Trust believes that there are significant benefits for patients and for staff.
  
  
• The freedoms of NHS Foundation Trust Status are helping us to provide better services for patients, in more innovative ways.
  
  
• The local community are having more of a say through their elected Council of Governors.
  
  
• Our staff are more easily able to implement their good ideas - e.g. new director and staff group meetings.
  

• Anyone who lives in Gloucestershire.
  
  
• All patients, including everyone who lives outside Gloucestershire and who has received treatment in one of our hospitals in the last three years.
  
  
• All employees of the Trust (and staff of other organisations who have worked with the Hospitals Trust for more than 12 months).
  

As a member you:

• are interested in your local NHS hospitals and you want to be involved in the way they are run.
  
  
• will be consulted from time to time on plans for changes to Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
  
  
• will not have to do lots of form-filling or going to meetings.
  
  
• can elect your representatives to serve on the Council of Governors.
  
  
• can stand for election to the Council of Governors (To find out more about Governors, Dial Freephone 0800 953 1392).
  
  
• can put yourself forward to be a Non Executive Director.
  

• Being a Member is free.
  
  
• If you are an employee of the Trust you can be a Staff Member but not a Public Member.
  
  
• Members will not receive a 'dividend', bonus or any special benefits in terms of NHS care or treatment.
  
  
• As a member you will receive a quarterly newsletter with news of the activities of the Trust and your Council of Governors.
  

To become a Member please complete the form at the top of the page.

Want to be more involved?

If you have a particular interest and wish to become involved in a focus group or project team, please complete this form and return it to the Trust at the address given.

• Involvement Questionnaire