Services Research Teaching Patients & visitors GPs Jobs News & media About us Private patients Contact us Home > About us > Council of governors Become a trust member Corporate information Council of governors Council meetings Governors A-Z Join our council of governors Governor Elections 2017 Governor elections 2018 Governor elections 2019 Governor elections 2020 Governor elections 2021 Equality, diversity and inclusion Working with our partners Our history Patient safety Public health Trust board World class expertise, local care Who’s who at the Royal Free London Stakeholder updates Council of governors What is the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust council of governors? The council of governors provides a way to directly link the Royal Free London to the communities it serves through the active involvement and participation of patients, public, staff and organisations in the council. The council is in place to ensure that the voice of the public, patients and staff is used to inform the trust’s decisions and improve medical care and patient experience. The Royal Free council of governors acts as a source of ideas about how the trust can best provide its healthcare services in ways that meet the needs of members and the wider local community. In addition it ensures that the trust follows NHS values principles and the terms of its trust licence. Join our council of governors. Roles and responsibilities of the council of governors: Working with the Royal Free board of directors to produce plans for the future development of the trust Representing Royal Free members’ views Receiving copies of the trust’s annual accounts, auditor’s reports and annual reports at a public meeting Agreeing the payment levels of non-executive directors (including the chairman) Appointment/removal of the chairman, non-executive directors and the trust’s external auditor Approving the appointment of the chief executive Ensuring the Royal Free board acts in accordance with the trust’s identified aims and fulfils the requirements of NHS Improvement Act in an advisory capacity to contribute to the strategic direction of the trust Adhere to the trust’s code of conduct Attend meetings of the council of governors, occurring seven times a year Attend the annual general meeting and any other meetings identified by the council. Governors will also have the opportunity to sit as observers on board committees, chair medicine for members' events and hold 'governors' surgeries' to engage with our members. There will also be learning and development events with members of the board of directors. Contacting the council of governors See a full list of our governors. If you would like to contact the governors please email the membership office at rf.governors@nhs.net The council of governors is not responsible for the day-to-day running of the trust, which is the responsibility of the Royal Free board of directors. Related links Become a trust member Contact us Barnet Hospital | Chase Farm Hospital | Royal Free Hospital Switchboard 020 3758 2000 Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust CQC overall rating Requires improvement 10 May 2019 See the report Services A-Z Consultants A-Z Resources A-Z Wards A-Z Privacy statement Accessibility Site map Website by Electric Putty