THE search is on to find volunteers to become NHS champions and become a hospital governor.

Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has nine of their 16 governors up for election this summer.

Governors are members of the community who work with the management and leadership of the hospitals to ensure that decisions are made in the interests of patients, staff and the public.

Steve McGuirk, chairman of Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get involved in decisions about their hospitals and to get involved with us.

“Being a hospital governor means people can have a real say and can represent the needs of patients, their own family and friends, in helping us improve services and take the hospitals forward in the future.

“This is a great opportunity to shape the future of the NHS locally.”

Governors also carry out other roles duties such as developing new ways of working and engaging with the community and undertaking unannounced visits to wards and departments to ensure quality and safety are being delivered.

To stand for election, people must be aged over 16 and a member of the hospital foundation trust membership scheme.

Membership is free and involves completing a simple online form or contacting the hospital.

More than 12,000 people are already members of the trust.

Mr McGuirk added: “We’re an improving trust and have got exciting plans about developing our services.

“But we can’t shy away from the reality that we also have significant challenges, financially and operationally, and we face seemingly ever growing demands.

“There’s never been a more important time to have the public fully involved in hospitals and decisions about health provision so we need good people, from all ages and backgrounds, to stand for election and work with us as governors.

“Anyone from students to young families to older people would be most welcome.”

The role is not onerous but does require a commitment to attend around six governors’ meetings over the year.

Ideally governors would also be expected to participate in other committees and engagement activities where possible.

Travel expenses are paid.

If you are interested in the hospital governor roles but are not already a hospital trust member you need to join before a nomination can be accepted.

You can do this by clicking on the ‘join us’ button on the front page of the hospitals’ website whh.nhs.uk and filling in the form.

You can find out more about the role of the governor on the website.

You can also call 01926 664222 to be sent a form or find out more.

Post card reminders will be issued to all members at the end of April to see if they wish to stand for election and nomination forms will be available online and in hard copy.

The postal ballot of members to elect the nominees in each area then takes place in June.