Becoming a Governor

If you are a member of the NHS Foundation Trust and over the age of 16, you have the right, to stand for election to the Council of Governors.

For more information on standing as a Governor, please contact Foundation Trust office (contact details below).

About a third of the public member representative seats on the Council of Governors come up for election each year. The elections are held in each of our 4 Public Constituencies. They usually take place in the autumn, and the successful candidates take up their seats on the Council of Governors in the spring.

Notice of election to the Council of Governors

The Trust gives notice that it will hold elections to the Council of Governors of the Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.

Elections are to be held for the following positions, for a term length of 3 years:

Public Governor seats available for election:

5 vacancies for Public Governor in the Torbay Constituency
4 vacancies for Public Governors in the Teignbridge Constituency
1 vacancy for Public Governors in the South Hams and Plymouth Constituency
1 vacancy for Public Governor in the Rest of the South West Constituency

Staff Governors Seats available for election:

1 vacancy for Staff Governor in Medicine and Urgent Care
1 vacancy for Staff Governor in Planned Care and Surgery
1 vacancy for Staff Governor in Professional Support Services
1 vacancy for Staff Governor in Children and Family Health Devon

Nominations are open from Tuesday 11 November 2025 and close at 5pm on Tuesday 3 February 2026.

A nomination form to stand for election to these positions is available from Tuesday 11 November 2025 and can be obtained from the Returning Officer in the following ways:

Online:: Governor Election Platform
Telephone:: 0208 889 9203
Email:: ftnominationenquiries@cesvotes.com
Post:: Civica Election Services
The Election Centre
33 Clarendon Road
London N8 0NW

All nominations should be received by the Returning Officer, Ciara Hutchinson, at the address or website as detailed above, by 5pm on Tuesday 9 December 2025.

Should any nominee wish to withdraw their nomination, they must put this in writing to the Returning Officer by 5pm on Friday 12 December 2025.

For all contested constituencies voting will open on Friday 9 January 2026. Voting will close at 5pm on Tuesday 3 February 2026.

The Returning Officer for these elections is Ciara Hutchinson, Civica Election Services (address as above).

Current staff are not required to apply to be a Foundation Trust Member and should not apply to be a Public Governor.

If required voting packs will be despatched on 9 January 2026 with close of election at 5pm on 3 February 2026.

Nomination forms and other useful publications are all on the Governor Election Platform.

Exclusions to standing as a Governor

There are some exclusions to standing for election as a governor, which are fully described in the Constitution. They include recent conviction as a criminal, bankruptcy or recent dismissal from the NHS. Governors should show commitment to the role and act in the best interests of the Trust. Governors will also be expected to declare political affiliations and financial interests as part of the nomination process.

Council of Governors’ meetings

The Council of Governors usually meets four times a year, including its annual members’ meeting held in the autumn. The meetings can be attended by members of the public as observers.

Key documents

If you wish your governor to raise an issue

Governors are required to give prior notice to the Chairman of any items they wish to raise at the Council of Governors’ meetings. Anyone wishing to raise a topic should do so via the Foundation Trust Office, details below. Details of your governors can be found on our ‘Meet your Governors‘ page.

To contact your local Governor, please contact the Foundation Trust Office:

Foundation Trust Office
Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
Hengrave House
Torbay Hospital
Torquay TQ2 7AA

Tel: 01803 655705
Email: Foundation Trust Office