In the Roysse Room at the Guildhall this evening Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust came to do the first of a series of consultation events as they plan to become a Foundation Trust. Next consultation is at Faringdon on Tuesday.
Last November the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre and the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust merged to form this trust with four hospitals: John Radcliffe, Churchill, Nuffield Orthopaedic, and Horton General.
Becoming a Foundation Trust will give the trust more control over their own affairs within the NHS but they need members – some of whom will be staff, and some members of the public. It is easy to become a public member. Just go to Oxford University Hospital NHS Trust and fill in the form. Members of the public will elect most of the people on the board of governors. Members can even stand to become governors if they have the time.
It was an interesting evening, with some interesting questions from members of the public.
I did not see any councillors there but the town council had their own meeting at the same time to discuss the proposed reduction of the number of district councillors in Abingdon from 14 to 10. That will mean ward boundaries will need changing and possibly the number of town councillors will need reducing from 21 to 20 or 15. The town council also discussed The Guildhall in a secret session.
That will be a confidential session! Doesn’t sound so ominous.
The Roysse room looks stunning in the bottom picture. I dont remember the ceiling being yellow before though? Not that thats a bad thing, just an observation!
Just a minor correction – the confidential item was regarding the museum rather than the guildhall. Nothing sinister, just a matter which could have a commercial implication so needed to be confidential for the time being, which is standard practice.
Hope this helps