All Trust Governors

Governor's Personal Statement

I have had the honour of serving as public governor for Amber Valley South for almost three years. As you will know the Trust has had much adverse publicity: though not undeserved this has, I have felt, tended to overshadow the great work that has throughout been done for and with those who have needed our help (and their families). Derbyshire Healthcare has more than ninety clinical teams in the field and it has been my privilege to visit more than half of them to learn first-hand about their work and observe their enthusiasm. I have lived for most of my life in Amber Valley. I went to school in Belper where I worked for thirty-seven years as a GP. The Trust has always, of course, been in partnership with other organisations and this is now more obviously a necessity than ever in the past. I have observed how the Trust is always trying to work more efficiently while striving to improve its services. I have attended public meetings in Heanor and Belper where local services have been discussed. Attendance at Board meetings has shown how the complex organisation evolves while maintaining the human touch. I have felt that my local connection has helped me as your representative on the Trust's Council of Governors of which I have been lead governor in the past year. Governors have become better informed, better trained and more effective in their role of representing the public interest and holding the Trust Board to account.