Supporting our Local NHS

When everything seems in turmoil and our voices lost amongst the noise of upheaval, we can be heard and help our local NHS.
Did you know you can become a 'Member' of your local NHS? I didn't until I moved to the Dales from Scotland and was wanting to get to know about the services available locally. I stumbled on the DCHS (Derbyshire Community Health Service) web site and found I could become a member, and as they say "The rest is history". Being a member costs nothing, but it means you get to hear regularly from the Trust Board itself and the Council of Governors what is happening and where the service is headed. You can attend public meetings of the Board and Governor meetings (still mostly remote) and get an insight and understanding of the pressures but also the hopes of the services. I eventually stood for and was elected as a Public Governor for Derbyshire Dales for DCHS. It is a three year commitment, but it is not difficult to manage the required engagement, and I have found the various committee meetings that we can attend, the appraisal panels, site visits etc that can all be part of our involvement, very interesting and rewarding. Our voices, as governors, are listened to and valued.
When politics can seem remote and activism sometimes hopeless, then having a voice is our greatest asset.
Please consider our local NHS not as remote but as a Community that wants to hear from you and gives you a strong voice.

You can apply here.