Worcestershire Acute NHS Foundation Trust
Posted by labourblogger on June 1, 2009
Nigel Knowles Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Wyre Forest and Worcestershire County Councillor St Barnabas, Kidderminster.
You can view further blogs at Nigel Knowles blog
A meeting was held on 1st June for members of Worcestershire Acute NHS Foundation Trust in Kidderminster Town Hall. About 1700 people have signed up to join as members in Wyre Forest, the highest number in the six district areas in Worcestershire. We were told that the Worcestershire Acute Hospital Trust now has a total of 5,600 members in the county.
In my opinion, there are one or two problems in the undertaking.
Firstly, it’s not on that the newly elected non-paid Governors ( 3 in Wyre Forest) would not be able to attend all parts of the Director’s Board Trust meetings (with the possible acknowledged occasion regarding personnel or some aspects of absolute confidential business).
Secondly, whilst acknowledging that Government has set the rules and structure, it’s pretty clear that the Governors will play second-fiddle to the Directors. What is on offer is a half-way house at best, and at worst, a members-elected Council of Governors who could be incredibly frustrated by regulation strictures denying them opportunity to home in on particular local issues.
Like any set of rules, some seem in conflict with others. For instance, one would seem to deny the right to particularly advocate that a Radiotherpy Unit beplaced at Kidderminster Hospital. That could be considered “proscribed activity”. However, a later rule states that Governors can represent and advocate community causes and issues. Given that over 10,000 people have signed my Petition for a Radiotherpy Unit for Kidderminster Hospital, surely it could be deemed an appropriate community issue?
Finally, I want directly elected NHS Trust Non-Executive Directors. In 2000/2001, I ran a National Campaign to get that facility. About 70 Districts and other Councils in England and Wales signed up, across all Party Political control.
We can’t have this lack of NHS Democracy. The Labour Government has funded the NHS in a fantastic way since 1997. However, we now need democratic provision and accountability. I believe the public is way ahead of the status quo on this issue.
