NOMINATIONS are now open for six public governor and two staff governor roles at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust.

Public governor vacancies are open across the North East Somerset, Mendip and Bath constituencies where current governors have come to the end of their terms.

A public governor helps to ensure that the trust delivers services that meet the needs of patients, carers, staff and local stakeholders. They look to do this by creating stronger links with the communities that Royal United Hospitals (RUH) serves by reflecting patient and public views and interests.

The core time commitment for public governors is four council of governor meetings per year, plus the annual members’ meeting, but there are many other activities you are encouraged to get involved in to get more out of the role.

Governors receive full training for their role as well as ongoing support from the RUH membership office.

RUH is also looking to recruit two staff governors to act as the voice of their colleagues, ensuring staff views are heard at every level of the trust and sharing the views of staff with the council of governors and board of directors.

Staff governors have a key say in the decisions that affect working life at the hospital and help to make the services the trust provides the very best they can be.

Liam Coleman, interim chair at RUH, said: “Our public and staff governors play an invaluable role at the RUH, helping the hospital's Board to stay focused on the things that really matter.

“These really are important roles that make a significant difference to the people we care for, the people we work with and the people in our community.”

Nominations for both public governors and staff governors are now open and will close at 5pm on Tuesday, September 23.