Issue - items at meetings - Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUHT): Foundation Trust Application

Presentation on the progress of BSUHT’s foundation trust application (verbal)

56.1    This item was introduced by Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive; Julian Lee, Chair; Alex Sienkiewicz, Director of Corporate Affairs; and Dr Jonathon Andrews, Chief Operating Officer, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUHT).

56.2    In answer to a question from Cllr Harmer-Strange concerning the size of the planned board of governors, members were told that the proposed structure was large but manageable. It was necessary to have this number of governors to reflect the scope of the trust’s services, although Brighton & Hove residents did form the trust’s core constituency.

56.3    In response to a question from Cllr Allen regarding representation from the community local to the Royal Sussex County Hospital (i.e. East Brighton), Mr Sienkiewicz told the committee that the trust anticipated that local residents would be active in the trust’s membership, as they will have an obvious interest in the trust’s affairs.

56.4    In answer to a question from Cllr Harmer-Strange concerning involving children in running the trust, members were told that Monitor sets the minimum age for Foundation Trust governors at 16. It is therefore not possible to have under-16 governors, but the trust is committed to involving children in its decision making, perhaps via the existing arrangements for the Children and Young People’s Trust.

56.5    The representatives of BSUHT were thanked for their contributions and their plans for Foundation Trust governance were noted.