Wednesday 29 April 2015


As chair of the Royal Surrey's Merger Working Group of Governors I have completed a survey of governors to capture all their questions and concerns about the merger. As a result a full day has been organised for 13 May when members of the Board and the hospital's executive will address all the issues raised as part of the governor's duty to scrutinise what the Board is doing.

Also as the hospital's governor representative on the so-called advisory Stakeholders Group comprising individuals for a wide range of bodies (e.g. local government, health commissioners GP Patient Participation Groups) I attended a recent meeting to encourage the two hospitals to put more energy into preparing literature to inform and engage the public assuming that the Competition and Mergers Authority gives the go ahead in a few months time. I will be joining a few others to review any such literature to ensure it is straight forward without jargon. Watch this space!

Refurbished Maternity Unit

I have just attended the official opening of the newly refurbished maternity Unit. It is a very splendid place and cost about £0.5 million. It features a new high dependency Unit and a high dependency area with birthing pool. Additionally a new education facility was opened for the unit at the same time. This will allow top class training within the unit itself. When the NHS as a whole and the Royal Surrey itself are under great financial pressure it is heartening to see they are still managing to invest.