Why become a Member?

What are NHS Foundation Trusts?

NHS Foundation Trusts are membership organisations that are free from central government control. This means that we will have a lot more freedom to shape the way that we provide and develop services for our patients.

NHS Foundation Trusts have lots of Members, including staff, patients, the public, and stakeholders, invited to join and have their say.  These Members elect a Council of Governors who represent their views.

Click here if you would like to become a Member of Yorkshire Ambulance Service
 
As a foundation trust we would also have more freedom to invest funds into projects to benefit our patients.

Like all other NHS organisations, NHS Foundation Trusts are still inspected each year by the Care Quality Commission to ensure that they are achieving national targets and standards. They are also controlled by an independent regulator called Monitor to ensure that the public's interest is protected. 

What are the benefits of becoming a Member of Yorkshire Ambulance Service?

By becoming a Member of our Trust you will have the opportunity to get involved in the decisions we make and to influence the way in which we plan and develop our services. Members can work with us to inform us of the services our local communities would like us to deliver.

Our Members will work with us to represent the views of their local communities or groups, and tell us about their needs. They will be represented by a Council of Governors which will work with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Board of Directors to influence how we develop and provide services in the future.

What if I need a helping hand?

If you have special needs, just let us know and we will provide tailored support so you can be fully involved to the level you wish. If you have not been involved as a member in an organisation before, let us know and, again, we will support you so that you can make the contribution you want.

How involved can I get?

We appreciate that all of our Members are different and will want to have different levels of involvement with our Trust. How involved you  become is completely up to you and can be identified on your application form:

• You can be kept up-to-date with the latest news and information about the Trust.
• You can take part in discussions, workshops and focus groups about our services and how they could be developed.
• You can stand for election to sit on our Council of Governors (all of our members can vote in the elections).

If you are interested in becoming a Governor we will be holding a briefing event in January 2013, please contact us for more details and to book your place.