Governors’ update Get in touch: Our governors are elected to represent and listen to the views of staff, patients, and the public. If you would like to get in touch, please email rf-tr.membership@nhs.net Patients have welcomed vibrant new artwork to North Mid’s collection thanks to the Royal Free Charity. Since becoming a part of the RFL group, the hospital now has access to the charity’s specially curated artwork. Harriet Armstrong, medical photography manager at North Mid, has worked with charity art curator Joss Blake to select art from the charity’s collection for the hospital. She said the recent additions have already made a tangible difference to patient and staff wellbeing: “When you install artwork into a healthcare environment, the staff feel like you value the space, and the patients feel cherished. They’re no longer looking at a blank, clinical wall.” Research shows artwork in healthcare settings can reduce stress, anxiety and pain, improving overall wellbeing and potentially shortening hospital stays. Harriet said: “We’ve had feedback from patients saying it brightens their day, and they love seeing a portal into another world. It creates escapism. Bringing art in shows another level of care. What a lovely way to show patients they matter to us.” Harriet previously launched an arts programme for stroke patients, funded by the Royal Free Charity. 10 11 Vote for your RFL governors Growing our RFL community Shaping our RFL values Painting a better patient experience The programme showed measurable therapeutic benefits which were presented at the European Stroke Congress. Recent Royal Free Charity initiatives include volunteer-led art tours to aid rehabilitation, and a virtual tour narrated by broadcaster Andrew Marr for those unable to leave their hospital beds. These efforts show how art can offer comfort and distraction in clinical settings. We are hugely grateful to everyone who has put themselves forward as a candidate for this year’s governor elections. We are recruiting for 10 vacancies on our Council of Governors – four in the patient constituency and three in both the staff and public constituencies. Voting is now open and all eligible trust members will be contacted directly via email or post with details on how to vote in the elections. In total, 70 people have put themselves forward – you can read their election statements on the voting website. Voting will close at 5pm on Thursday 14 August and successful candidates will start their terms on Wednesday 1 October. Governors add huge value to our trust. They are elected to represent your interests, to hold the nonexecutive directors to account, and to support the board of directors who are ultimately responsible for how we deliver patient care. If you have any questions about the election, please contact Mi-Voice, our independent election provider, via email: support@mi-voice.com Encourage your friends, family and colleagues to become a member of the RFL and get more involved with their local hospital. From sharing feedback about our services to being able to stand for election as a governor, they will have a chance to make a real difference. Members are kept up to date with the latest RFL news and developments, and invited to events to increase their understanding of local health services. We would be grateful for your support in spreading the word and helping us grow our RFL community. For more information, contact our membership team: rf-tr.membership@nhs.net. With the addition of North Mid to the RFL group, we have a fantastic opportunity to redefine who we are, what we stand for, and how we work together. It’s time for us to come together to shape a new set of trust values that reflect our combined culture, guide us in our day-to-day interactions, and inspire us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our patients and staff. Thomas Pounds, chief people officer, said: “This is a really exciting opportunity for us to reset and redefine our values as a wider group. Values and behaviours are more impactful than they might sound – they help develop and define our culture and this is about using them as levers to drive cultural change.” By aligning ourselves around a set of shared values, we can build a stronger, more unified organisation grounded in trust and excellence. Everyone’s voice matters, and to make sure the values truly reflect who we are and who we aspire to be, the trust is seeking input from as many colleagues as possible. A change coalition group has been set up with representatives from across the different health units and corporate areas. In addition there are number of resources available on Freenet for staff to share their feedback. Introducing our new appointed governors Zena has been an elected Haringey councillor for Harringay ward for over 10 years and joined our Council of Governors in June 2025. She is the cabinet member for children, schools and families. Zena has spent 20 years working in Haringey, where she developed their play and early years services. She has also worked in eastern and central Europe supporting children from minority groups to access mainstream education. John has been a Hertfordshire County councillor since May 2017 and joined our Council of Governors in June 2025. He is a member of the council’s public health and community safety cabinet panel. John gained a BSc in mathematics and biology from King’s College London. A chartered accountant by profession, John worked for many years in the insurance and outsourcing industries before becoming a councillor. Councillor Zena Brabazon – appointed governor for Haringey Council Councillor John Hale – appointed governor for Hertfordshire County Council Thomas Pounds, chief people officer Medical photographer Harriet Armstrong with artwork at North Mid
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTI5NzM=