Membership

Become a member

Being a member of a Foundation Trust gives you the chance to have your say about how it is run.

Here, you will find information about what being a member means to our patients and the local community, and the way you can help us decide how the future will look.

What are NHS Foundation Trusts and how do they work?

NHS Foundation Trusts are free from government control and able to develop services to suit the needs of their local community.  They are still part of the NHS family and continue to be subject to NHS quality standards, performance ratings and systems of inspection.  Most importantly, these Trusts are accountable to staff and local people through members and an elected council of governors, who work closely with the Trust’s board of directors to influence decision making and strategic planning.

How do you become a member?

Becoming a member of our trust is simple and free. 

All you need to do is complete a form expressing your wish to become a member and return it to us. 

Contact the Membership Office to request an application form. 

Contact membership office

FREEPOST NAT14353,
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust,
Queen Elizabeth Hospital,
Sheriff Hill,
Gateshead,
NE9 6BR

0191 4456043

[email protected]

Once we have received your completed form, we will confirm your membership and send you further information. 

What will becoming a member mean to you, our patients and the local community?

As a member you: 

• Can have your say in how the Trust develops its services 
• Will receive regular information on Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust 
• Can become involved in specific projects where your personal views on our services will offer a valuable perspective 
• Will receive invitations to events, meetings such as our annual general meeting and presentations on health issues that interest you 
• Will receive invitations to meet your governors to discuss any issues 
• Be able to vote in elections to the Council of Governors 
• Be eligible to stand for election to the Council of Governors 
• Be able to attend regular meetings 
• Will receive a membership card  

What will I need to do as a member?

How involved you become is entirely up to you – there is no requirement to attend meetings or take part in elections. You may simply wish to be kept informed of developments and issues via the newsletter.

How does it work?

Our membership is made up of staff, public and patients. We also have a council of governors which is made up of governors who represent our staff, members, the public and key stakeholders.

Find out more about the Council of Governors

We also have a Board of Directors which has primary responsibility and accountability for the operation of the Trust.

Find out more about the Board of Directors 

Who can become a member?

Membership is open to anyone who:

1. is over the age of 16
2. lives within our defined membership area
3. has been a patient of the Trust, or the carer of a patient, at any time during the seven years preceding the date of application
4. is employed by QE Gateshead (all staff are automatically members unless they choose to opt out).

Our latest AGM

Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Members’ Meeting will be held on Wednesday 20th September 2023 at 09.30am to 11.00am. This will take place in person in the lecture theatre at our Trust Headquarters / Education Centre (QE Hospital site).

We invite our members, the public, Governors, staff and valued stakeholders to join us as our Board of Directors formally presents our Annual Report, Accounts and Quality Account for the year ended 31 March 2023.

We will be looking back at what has been another unprecedented year for us all and hearing about how our fantastic teams continued to work incredibly hard to look after our patients in Gateshead and beyond.

You will hear directly from some of our teams involved in delivering women’s health services over 2022/23 – an area we are hugely passionate about and proud of.

The agenda and papers for the meeting are now available online prior to the meeting:

If you have any queries regarding the event please contact the Corporate Services office on 0191 445 6043 or email [email protected]

Elections

Election to the Council of Governors 2023 

We are holding elections to our Council of Governors with the nomination period opening on Wednesday 30 August 2023.

We have a number of vacancies and would be delighted to receive your nominations via Civica Election Services. For more information about nominating yourself and standing as a Governor, please complete your nomination online via this link.

Or, for a printed nomination form, please contact Civicia Election Services either by calling 0208 889 9203 or by emailing [email protected].  You can also text 2FT GA and your name and address to 88802.

We invite you to join one of our governor information sessions if you would like to find out more about the role and how to apply:

• Thursday 7 September 2023 from 10.30am until 11.30am in Room 3, Education Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital
• Tuesday 12 September 2023 from 3.30pm until 4.30pm virtually via Microsoft Teams

To register for a session please contact the Corporate Services office, at 0191 445 6043 or by email [email protected]

The nomination period is now open (Wednesday 20 August 2023) and you can access our Notice of Election below. All nominations should be received by 5.00pm on Wednesday 27 September 2023:

Notice of Election

Nominations for our 2023 election to the Council of Governors will close on Wednesday 27 September 2023. The statement of nominated candidates will be published here once confirmed along with the outcome of any contested elections.

Should elections be held for seats, then voting will open on Thursday 19 October 2023 and voting instructions will be distributed to qualifying members by post or by email.

All votes must be received no later than 5.00pm on Monday 13 November 2023.

You can find out more about what the role of a Governor involves in our Governor information pack for prospective candidates.

Our Council of Governors’ Annual Report for 2021/22 will also provide you with an insight into the work and activities of our Governors over the last financial year:

Council of Governors Annual Report 2021/22 (344kB pdf)

I want to become a member

Online form

You can also contact the Corporate Services office by telephone at 0191 445 6043 or by email at [email protected].

The postal address for the membership office is FREEPOST NAT14353, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Sheriff Hill, Gateshead, NE9 6BR.