Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is calling on Keighley people to have their say on who will be the new hospital governor for the town.

The current Keighley governor, Mike Richings’, term ends on December 6, 2010.

To become a hospital governor you must attend quarterly meetings at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and take an active role in representing the interests of Foundation Trust members. The Foundation Trust is the organisation which runs Bradford’s two hospitals, the Bradford Royal Infirmary and St Luke’s Hospital.

A Governor’s term of office is three years and although governors aren’t paid for their duties, they are able to claim reasonable expenses.

Chairman David Richardson said: “As a Foundation Trust, we are more accountable to the local community and our staff through our membership and the Board of Governors.

“The Board of Governors works with the Board of Directors as a ‘critical friend’, helping to shape the way the Foundation Trust develops its services.

”It’s vital that if you want to become a governor to realise that you will be undertaking a very important public service to the people of Keighley, Bradford and beyond.”

The Foundation Trust’s Board of Governors has 20 members as well as the Chairman. The Board includes 12 public and patient governors, 4 staff governors and 4 appointed governors from partnership organisations.

To be eligible to vote you must be a member of the Keighley membership constituency.

For more detailed information on the role of a Governor here at Bradford Teaching Hospitals please take a look at the booklet provided which can be accessed here.

Election countdown

Monday 11 October

Publication of notice of election

A Notice of Election  has been posted on our website and in the local newspaper. This gives people information about where nomination forms can be obtained from and the date by which forms must be returned.

The election will be handled by Independent Scrutineer ERS (Electoral Reform Services Ltd) on behalf of the Foundation Trust.

Nomination packs with information about how to stand for election to these positions are available from Monday 11 October 2010 from the Returning Officer at the address below;

Caroline Hinchcliffe
Returning Officer Electoral Reform Services Ltd
The Election Centre
33 Clarendon Road
London N8 0NW
Tel: 0208 889 9203
Email: Caroline.hinchcliffe@electoralreform.co.uk

Tuesday 26 October 2010

Deadline for nominations

Completed nomination forms must be posted to the Returning Officer by noon on this date.

Monday 15 November

Publication of notice of poll

All members eligible to vote in the Keighley constituency will receive voting papers by post.

Friday 3 December

Deadline for voting

Completed voting papers must be posted to the Returning Officer by noon on this date.

Monday 6 December    

Election result announced

For further information about becoming a governor please go to: http://www.bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk/foundation-membership, email jacqui.maurice@bradfordhospitals.nhs.uk or telephone corporate affairs manager, Jacqui Maurice on 01274 382685.