Chance to represent your community as a governor on Bradford hospitals trust council

District residents are needed to represent their communities' views about the services at hospitals in Bradford.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services for the people of Bradford and communities across Yorkshire at sites including Bradford Royal InfirmarySt Luke’s Hospital and local community hospitals at EccleshillWestwood ParkWestbourne Green, and Shipley.

The trust is seeking public governors to sit on the Foundation Trust’s Council and represent the views of patients and communities.

Seven seats are available in the public constituencies of:

  • Bradford East (2 seats)
  • Bradford South (1 seat)
  • Keighley (2 seats)
  • Patient (1 seat)
  • Rest of England and Wales (1 seat)

As a governor you will be able to:

  • ensure there is robust challenge about the strategic direction of the trust, its vision and how it is performing
  • share with the Board and Council of Governors the views of the local people you represent: actively seeking out what they think about the services provided by Bradford Teaching Hospitals
  • take part in meetings of the Council of Governors, its committees, governor training days and Joint Council of Governors/Board of Directors sessions to represent the views from your constituencies as you carry out the statutory duties of a governor.

Associate Director of Corporate Governance/Board Secretary Laura Parsons said: “It is important that people stand as governors so that we have the voices of our local communities influencing the important decisions that we make.   

“We actively encourage people to take part in aspects of hospital life and this is one more way that people can get involved.”

Find out more

The council is made up of staff, appointed governors from partner organisations and 13 elected members from public and patient constituencies. Candidates must be a Foundation Trust member, aged 16 or over and live in the area they want to represent.

To find out more about the role you can join an informal virtual session with Chairman Dr Maxwell Mclean, and two governors on:

  • Tuesday 8th March 2022, 17:35 – 18:35
  • Tuesday 15th March 2022, 14:30 – 15:30.

To book, email: membership@bthft.nhs.uk

You can also contact Jacqui Maurice, Head of Corporate Governance, Jacqui Maurice, for an informal chat on 01274 382685 or email corporate.governance@bthft.nhs.uk

Becoming a Governor

The election process is being run by Civica Election Services. More information and nomination forms are available online at: www.cesvotes.com/BradfordTeaching2022

or via telephone to: 0208 889 9203

or by email: ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com

or by text: Text 2FT BT and your name and address to 88802

or by post: Civica Election Services, The Election Centre, 33 Clarendon Rd, London N8 0NW

All nominations should be received by the Returning Officer Ciara Hutchinson at the address or website as detailed above, by 5pm on Monday, 4 April 2022.

Voting papers will be distributed to members, within the relevant constituencies, on Thursday, 28 April 2022. The deadline for return of completed voting papers is Tuesday, 24 May 2022.   

Looking for information about health and care?

Find advice and information to help you stay well and make decisions about your health and social care support.

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Sarah - Chair of the Board of Trustees

image of Sarah, the Chair of the Board of Trustees

As the Chair of the board of trustees, I work with the other trustees and staff to help set the strategic direction of Healthwatch Bradford and District. We meet regularly to look at finance reports, agree the budget, get updates on the work of the staff team and make any decisions that are important to ensure the charity is as strong and effective as possible. We also work closely with the senior staff team to make sure they have the support they need. I previously managed Healthwatch Bradford and District, and I’m passionate about ensuring our local community has a strong voice in the local NHS. I know from personal experience, as both a patient and a carer, that the NHS can be confusing and it can be hard to have your voice heard. We are a diverse and brilliant community, and it’s vital that every part of it has the chance to speak up and help shape our care.

Outside of my role, I’ve got two young children so I’m often busy with them, but I also love yoga and walking in the woods and moors around the District.

I think Healthwatch Bradford and District does a vital job hearing from people across the District, sharing their experiences and views with the NHS, and helping the health and care system better understand the community. I love that I can support this, and I really enjoy getting to work with the fantastic team.

 

Emma - member of the Board of Trustees

Emma - member of the board of Director

"Healthwatch Bradford and District plays a vital role in making sure every person’s voice is valued, respected, and used to drive meaningful change across our local health and care systems."

I’ve always been driven by a deep belief that people deserve to be heard when it comes to their health, wellbeing, and social care. That belief has shaped my entire career and I’ve spent my life working across health and social care. I have spent time in emergency departments, on hospital wards, within social care services, and alongside community groups where I’ve witnessed extraordinary dedication across our system, but I’ve also seen where things fall short. Those experiences have strengthened my conviction that listening to people’s real stories is the key to creating better, fairer, and more responsive services.

As a Trustee of Healthwatch Bradford and District, I’m proud to help ensure that this principle sits at the heart of everything we do. My role involves supporting the leadership team with strategic decisions, guiding our communications, and helping to shape the organisation’s public presence so that the Bradford and district community knows we are here to champion what matters to them.

Outside of work, life is full and joyful. I have a large, lively family, I foster dogs (which brings chaos and love into the house), and I find calm and creativity through crochet.

 

Jo - member of the Board of Trustees

image of Jo

“I’m committed to making sure every voice, especially those often overlooked, shapes the future of our local health and care services.”

Alongside my work as an Aviation Ops Co‑ordinator, I serve as a trustee where my role is to read, question, and challenge. I bring real‑life experience into board decisions, always trying to make sure services and strategies work for the people they’re meant to help. Because I commute between cities for my job, I get to see how health services operate in different parts of the country. That wider perspective really influences my understanding of services, especially when I see how differently things can be done in other areas of the UK.

I have a particular interest in children’s services, the elderly, and vulnerable communities as I feel these people have seldom heard voices and need to be supported within healthcare services. As a Healthwatch board member, I champion the voice of local people in health and social care. I use lived experience, community insight, and independent challenge to influence decisions, improve services, and ensure people are heard. I’m driven by a belief that everyone deserves safe, fair, and accessible care, and that real change happens when the public voice is at the table and taken seriously.

I’m also currently studying a diploma in Aesthetics. When I’m qualified, I hope to be able to help people with cleft palates or other facial issues or scarring. It’s important to me to support people who might otherwise struggle to access the help they need. I really agree with the sentiment that the health and care system works best when it truly listens to the people it serves.