Appendix 1
REPORT TO:
Council of Governors
MEETING DATE:
16 May 2013
SUBJECT:
Report from Membership Committee Meeting held on 23 April 2013
AGENDA ITEM:
16
PRESENTED BY:
Justine Corney
DATE
PREPARED:
3 May 2013
FOR:
Information
The attached minutes summarise discussions that took place at the Membership Committee
meeting on 23 April 2013:
The membership numbers were reviewed and it was noted that these had decreased by 74
since January; this highlighted the need to continually recruit new members in order to
maintain the membership numbers.

It was explained that there were would be three Members Newsletters this year, the next one
would coincide with inviting members to the AGM and talk at the Apex on 30 September
2013.

Feedback from the Courtyard Café was reviewed. On the whole, apart from the ongoing
issue of car parking, there was a lot of very positive feedback which the committee
requested was noted and included in a Members Newsletter.
Comments received from the Courtyard Café have been feedback to the Soft Intelligence
Committee and the lead for the Patient Experience Committee.
Recommendation
1.
The Council of Governors is asked to note the minutes of the Membership Committee
meeting of 23 April 2013.
Appendix 1
DRAFT
MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE
HELD ON TUESDAY 23 APRIL 2013 AT 5.00pm
IN THE EDUCATION CENTRE AT WEST SUFFOLK HOSPITAL
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
June Carpenter (JCa)
Jane Chilvers (JCh)
Justine Corney (JC)
Jayne Gilbert (JG)
Barry Moult (BM)
Helen Smith (HS)
Jane Upward (JU)
Adrienne Wakeling (AW)
Stuart Woodhead (SW)
Public Governor
Staff Governor
Public Governor
Public Governor
Staff Governor
Public Governor
Public Governor
Public Governor
Public Governor
In attendance
Georgina Holmes (GH)
Richard Jones (RJ)
FT Office Manager
Trust Secretary
Attendance

Apologies








Action
13/10
APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were noted as above.
13/11
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 24 JANUARY 2013
The minutes of the meeting of 24 January 2013 were agreed as a true and accurate
record.
13/12
MATTERS ARISING ACTION SHEET
The ongoing actions were reviewed and the following comments made:13/05–dates for event/talk at West Suffolk College and Thurston Community College to
be confirmed – Barry Moult reported that Jan Bloomfield had suggested that he should
leave arranging an event at West Suffolk College for a while. It was agreed that he
should follow up with Thurston Community College.
It was proposed that Ormiston Academy in Sudbury could be considered for a future
event/talk for younger people .
It was also suggested that the Trust should consider using Facebook and Twitter as a
way of raising its profile, particularly to younger people.
The completed action points were reviewed and there were no issues.
BM
13/13
MEMBERSHIP NUMBERS
The membership numbers were reviewed and it was noted that they had reduced by
74 since January. Georgina Holmes explained that this was partly due to a data
cleanse being undertaken prior to the newsletter being sent out in March; however this
emphasised the need to continually recruit new members in order that numbers were
maintained.
It was suggested that the Trust might wish to widen its catchment area to enable
people who attended the hospital but were out the current membership area to
become members. Richard Jones explained that if this decision was made the most
appropriate time would be 12 months prior to governor elections.
13/14
MEMEBERSHIP & ENGAGEMENT
Recruitment & Engagement Development Plan, Including Future Events
The plan was reviewed and the following actions agreed:Georgina Holmes to find out if it is was possible for two governors to attend a blood test
clinic on a Saturday morning (8 June). Also to find out the best time for governors to
attend during the week, preferably early in the morning.
It was also proposed the Georgina Holmes should follow up the possibility of governors
attending an ante-natal clinic.
Other Outpatient clinics that were suggested for recruitment of new members were the
Eye Treatment Centre, Children’s Ward and Day Surgery Unit, possibly combined with a
day when governors were recruiting in the Courtyard Café.
It was agreed that the Courtyard Café was still a good venue for recruiting new members
as people were willing to talk to governors in this location.
Richard Jones reported that the plan was to hold a further event on the Trust’s Joint
Replacement Programme in Thetford in July. This would not coincide with a Members
Newsletter but the audience would be targeted through the Trust’s marketing activities
and from local members and their guests. (Subsequent to this meeting the date/venue
has been confirmed as 29 July at the Church on the Way, Thetford).
He also explained that it has been agreed that there would only be three Members
Newsletters this year; the next one with coincide with the Trust’s AGM and membership
event/talk which would take place in September. This would have a similar format to last
year, hopefully at the Apex and the proposed topic was dementia. (Subsequent to this
meeting the date/venue has been confirmed as 30 September at the Apex). It was noted
that the move to three Newsletters would reduce costs.
It was suggested that in the future Members Newsletters should include information on
the CCG.
13/15
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Feedback from Courtyard Café
The main issue continued to be car parking, particularly cost, but also lack of spaces for
blue badge holders.
GH
GH
It was requested that an email be sent to governors outlining details of changes that
would be made under the new car parking contract. It had also been proposed that
governors should be invited to attend a meeting to discuss parking. Richard Jones
would follow this up with Jan Bloomfield.
It was noted that there had been a comment from one patient about the attitude of a
radiographer in breast x-ray. Georgina Holmes was asked to ensure that feedback
forms were dated to enable any incidents to be followed up with the relevant department.
On the whole there was a lot of very positive feedback and praise for the hospital and
staff, particularly in areas that often came in for criticism, eg A&E. The committee felt
that this should be noted and included in a Members Newsletter.
Richard
Jones/Georgina Holmes to feedback to Diane Mathews.
13/16
PATIENT ADVISORY PANEL
The minutes of the Patient Advisory Panel meeting held on 14 February 2013 were
noted and there were no issues.
13/17
ISSUES FOR ESCALATION TO THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE OR
COUNCIL OF GOVERNORS
Feedback from the Courtyard Café would be presented to the Soft Intelligence
Committee, which would escalate any issues to the Patient Experience Committee.
13/18
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
There was no further business.
Date of Next Meeting – Tuesday 9 July 2013 – 5.00pm.
RJ
GH
RJ/GH