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WelcomeDuring the nominations period, please use the "Complete my nomination form" button on the right (or below for mobile users or small screens) to nominate yourself for this election.During the voting period, please use the "Cast your vote now" button on the left (or below for mobile users or small screens) to proceed.Further information is available in the useful documents on the left and on the voting and nomination pages.These actions do not require javascript to be active.You will need to activate javascript to view the full content of this page including date specific updates.

Welcome

Welcome to the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust election website.

Elections are being held for the following Governor vacancies:

Public: Crewe and South Cheshire – 3 vacancies
Public: Northwich and Region – 2 vacancies
Staff: Clinical Support Staff – 1 vacancy
Staff: Other Professionally Qualified Staff – 1 vacancy

Need More Information
To find out more information please see the useful documents and links in the resources section.

Need Help
If you need any help submitting your nomination you can contact the Returning Officer by emailing [email protected]

Please watch this short video explaining how to complete a nomination form online.

What happens next?

Nominations will open on Tuesday 25 June 2024.

Nominations are open

Welcome to the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust election website.

Nominations for this election are now open. Please click the ‘Complete my nomination form’ button to submit a nomination form.

Elections are being held for the following Governor vacancies:

Public: Crewe and South Cheshire – 3 vacancies
Public: Northwich and Region – 2 vacancies
Staff: Clinical Support Staff – 1 vacancy
Staff: Other Professionally Qualified Staff – 1 vacancy

Need More Information
To find out more information please see the useful documents and links in the resources section.

Need Help
If you need any help submitting your nomination you can contact the Returning Officer by emailing [email protected]

We also have an instructional video explaining how to submit your nominations online.

What happens next?

Nominations will close at 5pm on Tuesday 23 July 2024.

Nominations are closed

Welcome to the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust election website.

Nominations are now closed and candidates’ election statements will be available when the ballot opens.

What happens next?

Voting will open on Wednesday 14 August 2024.

Voting is now open

Welcome to the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust election website, voting is now open.

To vote electronically please click on the ‘Cast your vote now’ button. You will be asked to enter the security codes. Depending on how you arrived here, these may have automatically been completed for you. If you have received a postal ballot paper, you can find the security codes printed on your ballot paper.

You can also watch a short video explaining how to cast your vote online.

Candidate statements

Please click on the candidates’ photographs and view candidates’ statements for election.

Public: Crewe and South Cheshire

John Bache

Pauline Church

Patricia Griffiths-Weston

Jayne Hartley

Michael Colin (Mick) McCarthy

Julie Meir

James Priest

Public: Northwich and Region

Helen Gorst

Mark Green

Alison Smith

What happens next?

Voting will close at 5pm on Monday 9 September 2024.

John Bache

I worked as a doctor on the front line of the NHS for 35 years, including 26 years as senior consultant in Accident and Emergency at Leighton. I have been a governor at MCHFT for three years and am now seeking your support for re-election. I have been elected as Lead Governor by my governor colleagues.

I have always put the patient first, before all other considerations. My order of priorities is crystal clear: firstly, the patient; secondly, the staff (particularly those with direct patient contact); lastly, endless targets imposed by politicians or NHS bureaucrats.

The NHS is in poor shape at present. Patients are finding it difficult to see a GP. They are waiting for unacceptable lengths of time for ambulances. Twelve-hour waits in A&E are happening far too frequently. Patients are waiting for hospital appointments, for operations, and to be discharged to appropriate care. Appointments and operations are being cancelled. All these deficiencies cause great distress to patients and their families.

The patient can easily be forgotten because of the stifling bureaucracy which is endemic in our current NHS. The clinical staff and managers at MCHFT are excellent and conscientious, but their efforts are hampered for reasons beyond their control.

I see my role as a governor to ensure that the patient is never forgotten but remains central to all decisions. This has been my motivation throughout my career, and I don’t intend to change.

I seek your support for re-election.

Thank you.

John Bache OBE

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Pauline Church

I have worked in the NHS all my working life until retirement.

I am a mother and grandmother and I live locally.

I am a retired nurse with SRN and RMN qualifications and a national vocational certificate in training and assessing in health care.

My career has been varied involving being a night sister at Leighton, peripatetic night sister travelling around the group supporting staff sister on the mental health unit at the Barony hospital

I was employed by the Wellcome Foundation pharmaceutical company as the occupational health sister responsible for the health and safety of all employees.

In 1984 I opened and managed a residential home until 1997 when I was offered a new post on the Isle of Man which involved setting up national vocational training for health care staff working in mental health this allowed staff to advance to further training. I worked on the island until my retirement

I have been a patient several times in Leighton hospital for which I am truly grateful.

If elected I would hope to contribute in whatever capacity I can using my various experiences as a nurse. I would want to support everyone involved with the trust. I care very much about staff morale and patient safety.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Patricia Griffiths-Weston

I believe that Healthcare in all it's forms is of the utmost importance and which at sometime all of us need.

I have been a Public Governor for the last three years and would love to continue in the role.

I find it to be interesting, informative and exciting.

I attend Council of Governors / Directors and Non-Executive Directors meetings plus Chats with the Chair, enabling me to raise any concerns / positve comments about hospital experiences that the Crewe and South Cheshire constituents care to voice.

Engagement with patients and constituents I represent is central to the role.

Positive comments / concerns help to monitor, evaluate and ensure continuous improvement in the standards of care.

I have been on Executive Safety Walkabouts.

I survey inpatients on discharge to monitor their hospital experiences.

I am a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee, therefore part of the recruitment process for the appointment and selection of the Trust Chair plus Non-Executive Directors.

I contribute towards the Appraisal of the Chair and Non -Executive Directors.

My career has been in Education as a School Governor, Headteacher and latterly as an Early Years Consultant. This involved assessing, monitoring, advising, training, analysing data, and moderating, skills which I can bring to the Public Governor role.

I was an Affiliate Member of the Chartered Institute Of Education and Assessment.

I volunteered with Ockenden Adventure teaching English to refugees.

If re-elected I hope to hear from you and to be your voice.

Pat Griffiths-Weston

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: Labour
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Jayne Hartley

I am a passionate supporter of the NHS and committed to the delivery of high quality care for patients and the health and well-being of staff based in the Trust.

I worked in the NHS for over 40 years as a registered nurse, initially working clinically and then transferring to nurse management. I worked in Bristol, Oxford and Manchester before being based at Leighton hospital, my local care provider, as the Deputy Director of Nursing and Quality. I worked in this role for over 10 years before taking early retirement and then returning as a vaccination nurse following the outbreak of Covid.

I believe this experience and my leadership skills of honesty, integrity, determination, professionalism, competence, diplomacy and development of effective working relationships will help me in the governor’s role. I am keen to work alongside staff, trust members and the public to ensure I understand their experiences and make use of these to help support and improve our local services - despite the challenges that are faced by the NHS. I believe we must all work together to ensure high standards of quality care are delivered and the workforce remains motivated and supported to provide this essential care.
I also have a particular interest in enhancing end of life care and am a trustee for a local charity with expertise in this area.

I would love the opportunity to represent the interests of the trust’s members and the public so that we are proud of the care and treatment provided.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Michael Colin (Mick) McCarthy

I have been motivated throughout my adult life by a commitment to our publicly owned and funded NHS. As a former governor of another NHS Trust, I found that challenging the board allowed me to remind them of the founding principles of the NHS, and of the importance of it to my family and the community in which I live.

Though retired now, I have worked in and with the NHS for most of my career. I continue to volunteer with NWAS as a Community First Responder, answering certain emergency calls with my ambulance colleagues. This role, together with personal and community experience, brings home issues and problems. Mid Cheshire Trust is part of that process, and it is in resolving these problems and challenging the Trust hierarchy that I see the governor role being key.

I offer a strong, committed and challenging voice for the patient and my community.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

James Priest

These are exciting times for Leighton Hospital. Without doubt, the maturing of the existing services and infrastructure alone will bring about many further challenges, some of which may not have even presented themselves yet to the Trust. I bring a passion for improving healthcare access, quality and greater outcomes for all within the community that Leighton serves regardless of any challenge/s. Instead, I see the relationship between community and Hospital as paramount to the success of Leighton's evolution and would welcome the duty of acting as a liaison of our communities views or concerns and the fostering of positive relationships that promotes transparency, empathy and trust.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Helen Gorst

The health service is very important to my family and friends and I feel that the expertise and experience I can offer will help ensure that the Mid Cheshire Hospitals Trust has the oversight and strategic direction that our local community deserves. A trust can only flourish with the support and challenge that an excellent governing body can supply.

I am currently the deputy CEO of an 11 school academy trust, having previously been headteacher of two schools. In these positions, I have worked closely with governing bodies and developed a clear understanding of their function and value. In my current position, I have provided training for governing bodies and trustees, which has given me a deeper knowledge of the ways in which such strategic leadership can contribute to the effective delivery of goals and the improvement of the organisation. Governance is an important responsibility which, when discharged well, can lead to much better outcomes. My experience of working with governors has given me a very good understanding of how governors can best challenge, lead and support to make a positive difference. I believe in the importance of the health service.

On a personal level, I have witnessed its care for my disabled mother and its care for my partner who sadly passed with covid. My daughter is a nurse in an NHS hospital and my granddaughter was recently born in one. I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to the continued success of my local NHS.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Mark Green

This is a critical time for our National Health Service, in particular for our local hospitals. There is much change that is needed to deliver a service that meets our needs.

I was the Green Party candidate for Mid Cheshire constituency, and the importance of delivering excellent health care was perhaps the most important policy I stood on. With the forthcoming development of the Leighton site, it’s essential that sustainability is at the heart of all the planning and delivery. We need facilities and services for the future, with a building that lasts and doesn’t take cheap short-cuts for expediency. It also needs to be accessible for all, for those with restricted mobility, additional needs, and rely on public transport.

I know how important our local health services are at all stages of life. Until last September I was the vicar of St Stephen’s in Moulton, and have shared in many of the worries, illnesses and grief of those in the congregation and in the parish as a whole. I have also shared in the good times for many people as they celebrate new life.

Finally, my “day job” is Head of Digital for a Christian Charity. There are many benefits of engaging with patients and family digitally, but we have to be mindful of those unable to use those services, and the importance of personal connection.

I believe I have the knowledge, experience and relationships to represent our area as a Governor, and I look forward to your support.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: The Green Party
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Alison Smith

Mrs Alison R Smith I was born in Cheshire and have been privileged - together with my parents and extended family - to have received excellent care from MCHT’s hospitals. Having personal experience as a carer for parents with very poor health requiring long stays in hospital, I understand the challenges associated with the coordination of services required to ensure continued patient independence. Most of my professional career has been working within the IT Services industry where I still work today across customers in many industrial sectors. Additionally, I work within the trust as Bank Staff member – encompassing several roles including Healthcare Assistant and also in the Emergency Department. I also sit on the Patient Panel for NWAS – where we cover challenging topics, with the aim to improve services for the many (not the few). I have the time, desire, and passion to serve as a Public Governor for the Northwich region (where I have lived all my life). Utilising my tenacious, caring, and pragmatic nature combined with my business and interpersonal skills to help further improve the services offered. My aim is to bring my governance, communication, and technical skills I possess to benefit the NHS Foundation Trust, engaging with members and ensuring the people in the Northwich region receive the best levels of care. I feel the next few years will be extremely challenging on many fronts. I hope that you feel that I could usefully serve as a public Governor and that you can support my election.

Declaration of Interests:
Political Party: None
Financial or other interest in the Trust: None

Voting closed

Welcome to the Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust election website, voting is now closed.

Results

Congratulations to the candidates who have been successfully elected.

Election to the Council of Governors

Welcome

What happens next?

Nominations are open

What happens next?

Nominations are closed

What happens next?

Voting is now open

Candidate statements

Public: Crewe and South Cheshire

Public: Northwich and Region

What happens next?

Voting closed

Results

Resources

Useful documents

Useful links

Timetable