Membership and our council of governors

On 1 April 2020, we became one of the largest NHS Foundation Trusts in the country by bringing together Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Basildon & Thurrock University Hospital NHS Trust and Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust.  

As a Foundation Trust, we are very keen to continue to build our membership base.  We have over 35,000 members drawn from across Mid and South Essex as well as a special constituency for people who live outside this area but who want to be members of our trust.  With a few exceptions, all of our staff are members of the trust as well (approximately 15,000).

The Council of Governors comprises elected members from each of our public and staff constituencies, plus appointed governors from partner organisations.

Local people, patients and staff can become members of the Trust and have a say in the healthcare services we provide.

 

Why become a member?

Membership is free and you can become as involved as you wish

If you are 12 years of age or older and live anywhere in the UK, you are welcome to apply for membership.  It is vital to our success as an NHS Foundation Trust that our members reflect the diversity of our local population.

Through the Governors that you elect and through direct engagement with the trust, your voice will be heard.

You will be kept up to date on news and developments within Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, covering all of our hospital sites and sent our quarterly Trust magazine Your Hospitals and a monthly newsletter Your Membership.

You will also be informed of any service changes or consultations and notified the next time we hold Governor elections. 

As a member, you will be able to attend the quarterly Council of Governors Meetings and the Annual General Meeting.

Benefits and Discounts for Members

The NHS Discounts website offers all Foundation Trust members on-line discount to many major high street stores including Virgin Holidays, The Body Shop, Apple, Butlins, Red Letter Days and many more.  

To become a member, please click here .

Questions

We would be happy to answer any questions you have about becoming a member.  Please contact us by emailing mse.members@nhs.net.

We have governors that represent the people we serve across mid and south Essex, if you would like to know who your local governor is and get in touch, visit  Meet our Council of Governors.

The 2024 governor election has now been completed.

Here are the results:

• Report of Voting 2024 [pdf]
• Uncontested Report 2024 [pdf]

 

What do governors do?

Governors’  roles and duties (full guidance via the link) at a glance: 

• To hold the non-executive directors individually and collectively to account for the performance of the Board of Directors.

• To represent the interests of the members of the Trust as a whole and the interests of the public at large.

• Appoint and remove the Chair and Non-Executive Directors and decide their remuneration and conditions of office.

• Approve the appointment of the Chief Executive.

• Represent the interests of members and the public at large.

• Receive the Trust’s annual accounts and annual report.

• Appoint and remove the external auditors.

• Approve significant transactions e.g. merger.

• Approve changes to the Trust Constitution

The Council of Governors meetings are held four times a year in public - to browse the upcoming dates and to add them to your calendar, visit Events at the Trust.

Health talks

If you are interested in latest clinical developments (procedures, technology, etc.) we host regular talks to introduce and explain these. To find out about the next talk, visit Events at the Trust.

You can review all agendas and minutes from previous meetings by using the media browser below: