Nominations open for new NHS governors in Derbyshire

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust has opened nominations for elections to fill 12 public posts on its governing body, as well as six vacancies for staff governors.

Nominations are invited from residents across Derbyshire who would like to join the Trust’s 32-strong governing body to get more involved in local healthcare. People have until 19 October to nominate themselves and the results will be announced on 27 November after voting by the trust’s 12,000-strong membership.

NHS governors are representatives of the local community and help provide a local voice and advise the Trust about how best to meet the needs of patients, families and carers.

The election process will fill vacancies, across Derbyshire and in Derby city, arising as current post-holders come to the end of their terms-of-office on the governing body, usually running for two or three years.

All the details of how to submit a nomination, including the official nomination form to download, are available on the Trust’s website: http://www.dchs.nhs.uk/home/become_a_member/governor-elections-2020

The constituencies with vacancies are: Amber Valley, Erewash and South Derbyshire (four vacancies), Bolsover, Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire (four vacancies), Derbyshire Dales and High Peak (two vacancies) and Derby City (one vacancy). There is also a vacancy for someone living outside the local area, known as “the rest of England” vacancy.

Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust employs around 4,300 staff, caring for patients in 11 community hospitals and more than 30 health centres, as well as in clinics, GP practices, schools, care homes and, increasingly, in people’s own homes.