Why become a member?

My name is Rosie Shrimpton and I am a public governor of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust  – voted for by our members in the Bromley area.

I signed up as a member when Oxleas became a foundation trust and then decided to stand as a Governor in the elections. The reason was because I felt it was important to make sure that the high standard of care provided by Oxleas was maintained. By being a governor, I can help ensure that members are provided with the services they need and ask for.

As a Foundation Trust, Oxleas has more control on how the trust develops and can put more of its efforts into focusing on local needs and involving local people.

A very important way to do this is by asking local people to become members of the Trust and having a Council of Governors.   Governors are drawn from all sections of the community and act as a voice for our members within the Trust.

My name is Baeti Mothobi and I am a user/carer Governor representing the people of Bexley. My role as a Governor entails influencing policy and also making sure that the trust is accountable for everything that it does. Among my motivations for becoming a Governor is the belief that unless you are involved you can’t know what is going on.

One of the things I am involved with is the User and Carer Council which is made up of governors and people who use Oxleas’ services. We visit acute wards and other facilities, inspecting the general conditions and looking at how staff work with clients. We play an important role in helping to improve service delivery by making the trust accountable to the people who use its services.

Members can vote for Governors in elections and can stand themselves to become a Governor.   They help to develop the Trust’s plans for the future and to ensure that services are run in the way that members want. 

By becoming members, service users and carers have more opportunities to give their views and influence how the trust develops.  They have greater representation in a foundation trust, as there are service user/carer representatives on the Council of Governors.

Thousands of people living in Bexley, Bromley & Greenwich have already become members of Oxleas.  They are helping us to make our services more accountable to local people.

Membership is free and open to anyone aged 14 or over who lives in the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley or Greenwich or who uses Oxleas’ services or cares for someone who does.

Members receive regular up-to-date information about health issues and are invited to special events. 

If you would like to become a member, contact our Foundation Trust Hotline free on: 0800 389 6642 or email us at: foundation.trust@oxleas.nhs.uk