Information for governors

Governors form an integral part of the governance structure that exists in all NHS foundation trusts; they are the direct representatives of local community interests in foundation trusts.

It is the governors’ responsibility to represent their members’ interests, particularly in relation to the strategic direction of the trust. Governors do not undertake operational management of NHS foundation trusts; rather they provide challenge to the board of directors and collectively hold them to account for the trust’s performance.

The majority of governors are elected by an NHS foundation trust’s members, to represent its patients and service users, staff and general public. The remainder are appointed from key local organisations, such as primary care trusts or local councils.

This area of the website contains a wide range of information for governors, including frequently asked questions and links to related publications.