Membership development report Pauline McCluskey

Aims The aims of the membership development strategy are to:- Outline our membership community and the opportunities associated with becoming a member Continue to build and manage an active membership base Ensure that communication with members is effective and relevant Provide the resources to support membership Take account of other Trust strategies linked to membership development, e.g. the patient and public involvement strategy and the equality and diversity statement Take account of Monitor requirements

Member recruitment Most public members join as a result of direct mailing to patients, though membership forms sent out to schools, voluntary sector organisations, libraries, GP surgeries etc, and available within the Trust. 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 31/03/07- 19,519 13,558 public, made up of 5,218 from Exeter and South Devon, 5,084 from East Devon, Dorset and Somerset and 3286 from Mid, North, West Devon and Cornwall 5961 staff Since April 2006, total members joined 4132; deleted from database 424

Age by percentage - staff

Diversity - public

Membership activity 2006/07 Membership recruitment continues, most successfully via direct mailing to recent patients Quarterly newsletter sent to all membership households and to community organisations, libraries GP surgeries etc Members invited to become involved in specific activities via newsletter e.g. Research and Development Steering Group; Patient, User and Staff Involvement Group; Top Five Priorities focus groups Members and community organisations also receive the annual report Quarterly meetings continue in the three constituency areas Offer of speakers to go out to voluntary sector meetings – limited uptake First Trust Open Day held in May, linked with Celebrating Nursing and Midwifery – well attended Meetings for members interested in being a governor very well attended Members involvement in development of strategic directions

Strategic directions Information gathered at quarterly constituency meetings informed development of simple questionnaire 5,000 members surveyed via membership newsletter, asked to identify top five priorities (with 46% response rate) and subsequently invited to focus groups (attendance 12 – 20) Information gathering at focus groups informing initiatives in infection control, and work on hospital hygiene and patient food and nutrition Two page summary of strategic directions work (vision, values and priorities) presented to members via newsletter with request for comments – over 30 responses so far Potential for further more detailed gathering of information to assist in further development of plans e.g in relation to RD&E services at community hospitals Members will continue to receive updates in the newsletter