Respond, Deliver & Enable Membership development report Annual Members’ Meeting 17 September 2008 Margaret Green Deputy Chairman Council of Governors Pauline McCluskey Head of Corporate Affairs and Communications Item 7

Membership Development Strategy The Membership Development Strategy has recently been reviewed, with aims to take us to 2010: To increase the number of members who are representative of our patients and local community - a larger membership To encourage members to make use of opportunities to become involved and engaged with the Trust, in a way that recognises the value of their ideas and opinions - an active membership To strive for the composition of membership to reflect the diversity of the local community - a diverse membership To engage the local community through community visits to a wide range of groups and stakeholders - an inclusive membership To ensure members receive appropriate communications to improve their understanding of the RD&E and its relationship to the local community - an informed membership To ensure that the RD&E is accountable for its performance to its members, as part of its commitment to the local community, and as a primary function of being a foundation trust - a questioning membership

Membership activity 2007/08 Membership recruitment continues, most successfully via direct mailing to recent patients Quarterly newsletter sent to all membership households and to community organisations Members and community organisations will receive the annual report and summary strategic directions, with further opportunity to comment on RD&E priorities in the year ahead (survey and comments forms incorporated in documents) Review of quarterly members constituency meetings has resulted in trial of reduced number of meetings, with new range of topics and additional advertising Medicine for Members talks now well established and well attended Open Day, linked to NHS 60 celebrations Stand at Mid Devon Show Continued interest in the role of the governor - meetings for prospective governors well attended

The governors’ year Governors have played an essential role in a range of meetings and events and Trust business during 2007/08 A few of the highlights: Members constituency meetings, focus groups & medicine for members talks – role in chairing and facilitating Trust Open Day Development days and joint meetings with the Board of Directors to take forward strategic directions Chairman’s award Membership Development Group – responsible for agreeing direction of membership PEAT (Patient Environment Action Team) inspection Appointment of non executive directors Governors input in Healthcare Commission Annual Healthcheck Membership of Foundation Trust Governors Association (FTGA)

Plans for the year ahead – the highlights Formation of the Involving People Steering Group will encourage greater participation from local people, and a co-ordinated approach to membership and all other forms of involvement More opportunities for networking and collaboration with governors in the Southwest Greater input from governors re FT information on RD&E website, and newsletter content Repeat ‘recruit a friend’ campaign via newsletter Update membership application form Continue to use newsletter to survey members in connection with the RD&E forward plans, and keep them up to date with progress Satisfaction survey of newsletter More focus on staff members within the RD&E

Membership analysis

About our members… Direct mailing to recent patients remains the most effective method of membership recruitment New staff automatically become members when they join the RD&E, unless they opt out. Staff transferred to public membership when they leave (if eligible) Membership to year end 31/03/ , 13,900 public and 6065 staff Since April 2007, total members joined members were deleted from the database.

Age by percentage - staff

Ethnic diversity among public members

Costs associated with membership Annual database management £2,192 Newsletter £6,609 Members constituency meetings£1,864 Annual report£14,000 Subtotal£24,665 Elections£15,000 Total£39,665 Cost of membership per member per year £2.83 (Does not take account of staff costs)

New member mailing Letter and application form sent to recent patients Response new members to end of March 2008, 1050 to date Cost of mailing per person - £0.55 Cost per member recruited - £9.37

Respond, Deliver & Enable Membership development report Annual Members’ Meeting 17 September 2008 Respond, Deliver & Enable