Being a member of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust is free and you can decide how involved you would like to be. You may simply want to receive our membership newsletter, attend our Consultation Events and Annual Members Meeting or you may want to stand for election to the Council of Governors. It is up to you!
Benefits include:
- A direct link into the Trust via the Membership Services Office
- Receiving newsletters and up to date information about the hospital and services
- Engaging with you on future developments of your hospitals
- The opportunity to give your views and opinions about your hospitals
- You will be able to stand as or vote for your representative on the council of governors
- Invitations to special events and meetings
- Access to Health Service Discounts
Who can become a Public Member?
Any member of the public over 16 who resides in one of the below constituencies (as set out in our Foundation Trust Constitution) can apply to become a Public Member of the Trust for free:
- Barrow and West Cumbria
- Lancashire and North Yorkshire
- South Lakeland and North Cumbria
- Out of Trust area
- Rest of England
How to become a Member
To become a Public Member you can either complete the online membership form or contact the Membership Office.
You can also apply by posting a membership form to us or handing it in at one of our sites.
Please note that volunteers are enrolled as Public Members.
Information can be supplied in alternative formats, such as other languages, large print etc. Please do not hesitate to contact the membership office and they will arrange this for you.
How to contact the Membership Office
By email: FTmembership.Office@mbht.nhs.uk
By post: Trust HQ, Westmorland General Hospital, Burton Road, Kendal, LA9 7RG
Who can become a Staff Member
The Trust adopts an 'opt-out' approach to staff membership, whereby all staff on permanent contracts or on fixed-term contracts that run for 12 months or longer automatically become members, unless an individual specifically wishes not to. Staff who are seconded from partner agencies and bank staff in post or on contracts longer than 12 months will be invited to stand for and/or vote in Staff Governor elections.
How we use your information
As part of registration, there is key information we ask for to support the Trust communicating with you, for example your name, address, postcode, telephone number, email address and preferred method of contact (letter, email, SMS text) and data of birth so we can verify you are over 12 years of age. We do also ask for more sensitive information about your ethnicity and if you have a disability, but this is optional and your choice whether we can hold this information.
You will also be asked if you agree for your name to be on the public register of the Trust’s membership. The public register will only show your name, constituency, and class, for example Mr Joe Bloggs, Eden, Public.
This information is stored in a membership database that is subject to rigorous measures and retained securely, to make sure it can only be seen, accessed and/or disclosed to those who need to know. This is supported by policies and procedures to explain our approach and commitments and responsibilities to privacy, with staff trained regularly to understand their duties and responsibilities regarding the security of your personal data. All records, when no longer required, are destroyed confidentially in a secure way.
The Trust will not disclose, share, sell or distribute your confidential personal information to third parties unless we have your explicit consent.
What rights you have regarding your personal information
You have rights under data protection legislation, but it is important to understand that not all rights are absolute and will only apply in certain circumstances.
Correcting inaccurate information
It is important that the information is accurate and up to data and to make certain we have the right information to contact you. If any parts of the information we hold about you changes, contact the membership office so they can amend the information we hold.
Accessing information we hold about you
You have a right to see or be provided with a copy of the information we hold about you in the Membership database and are not required to pay.
When you no longer wish to be a member
If at any point you no longer wish to be a member, you can ask for your details to be removed from the database by contacting the membership office.
Staff whose employment ceases with the Trust will no longer be a staff member. However, providing they remain resident within the geographical area served by the Trust, they will automatically become eligible for public constituency membership if not disqualified from membership for any reasons stipulated in the Constitution.