Questions to the Trust Board

Written questions for the Board Meeting

Members of the public may ask the Chair of the Trust Board a question on any matter which is within the powers and duties of the Trust.

Questions will be taken at the beginning of the public section of each Board meeting. The Trust will seek to deal with questions during this part of the agenda, however if this is not possible a written response will be provided to the questioner and copied to all Board members within seven working days of the meeting. In exceptional circumstances, the Chair may extend the time period for public questions.

Notice of questions

A question may only be asked if it has been submitted in writing to the Trust Secretary by 12noon three clear working days before the date of the Board meeting. Each question must give the name and address of the questioner. If a question is being asked on behalf of an organization then the name of the organization must be stated. Written questions are to be submitted to the Trust Secretary, Trust HQ, Southmead Hospital, Southmead Road, Bristol, BS10 5NB or by email to trust.secretary@nbt.nhs.uk. No more than three written questions may be submitted by each questioner.

Procedure

At the Board meeting the questioner, if present, will be invited to read out the question. If absent, the Chair may read out the question. A written answer will be provided to a written question and will be given to the questioner and to members of the Trust Board before being read out at the meeting by the Chair. Copies of the questions and the responses will be recorded in the minutes.

Additional Questions

A questioner who has submitted a written question may, with the consent of the Chair, ask an additional oral question arising directly out of the original question or the reply.

An answer to an oral question will take the form of either:

  • a direct oral answer; or
  • if the information required is not easily available a written answer will be sent to the questioner and circulated to all members of the Trust Board.

Unless the Chair decides otherwise there will not be discussion on any public question.

Written questions may be rejected and oral questions need not be answered when the Chair considers that they:

  • are not on any matter that is within the powers and duties of the Trust;
  • are defamatory, frivolous or offensive;
  • are substantially the same as a question that has been put to a meeting of the Trust Board and been answered in the past six months; or
  • would require the disclosure of confidential or exempt information.

For further information, please email trust.secretary@nbt.nhs.uk