Public Governors are members of the public that have been elected to represent the people in the areas in which they live. There are five public Governors representing the Taunton Deane area, five representing West Somerset (West Somerset and Sedgemoor District Council areas), four representing East Somerset (South Somerset and Mendip District Council areas), and one representing the Rest of England (people who live outside of Somerset).
Similarly, the five staff Governors have been elected by the staff at Musgrove Park Hospital to represent their views, whether medical staff, support staff or clerical and administrative staff.
Partnership Governors represent local ‘partner’ organisations like the Primary Care Trust, the local Councils and Higher Education establishments.
These three types of Governors together make up the Members' Council. The Members' Council work with the Board of Directors to ensure that the hospital acts in a way that is consistent with its constitution and in the best interest of its patients.
The Governors have three distinct roles:
1. Appointments: selecting and appointing the Chair and Non-Executive Directors.
2. Monitoring: informing Monitor if the hospital is at risk of breaching the Terms of Authorisation, and raising concerns if they cannot be resolved at a local level.
3. Representing Members: being the eyes and ears of the local community and communicating with and representing the interests of the members in their constituency.