Become a member

If you would like to stay in touch with our plans or share your views on the future development of the ambulance service in the South West or even consider becoming a Trust Governor then please sign up to become a member of the Trust.

You can become a member by completing the online application form here.

What are the benefits of becoming a member?

The main benefit of becoming a member of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is that you can make your voice heard. In doing so, you can help us to help you by continually striving to improve our performance.

Other benefits include:

• Showing your support for your ambulance service
• Helping to shape the future of the service at an exciting time in its history
• Access to the NHS Discount scheme
• Receive regular information and news from the Trust
• Vote in the Trust governor elections
• Stand for election as a governor of the Trust when a vacancy arises
• Access to member only events.

Membership is free and it's flexible - you give as much or as little of your time as you wish.

Why do Foundation Trusts have members?

As an NHS Foundation Trust we have greater freedom to prioritise our budgets to ensure that we are meeting the needs of the public and patients that we serve. Our members represent the views of the wider population, so that we can better understand what we are doing and what could be improved.

We offer our members the opportunity to become as informed, involved and influential as they choose to be.

By learning more about the services we provide, our members are better placed to get involved, letting us have their views and influencing the future of the services we provide.

The more members we have who want to know about what we do, or who are willing to let us know what they think about the services we provide, the better. A strong public voice helps us ensure that we are doing the best we can for those who use our services, or who may use them in the future.

What does being a member involve?

How involved you become is entirely up to you. Some members choose just to receive information about the Trust and its services, whilst others choose to get involved by taking part in consultation exercises or by attending events. A few of our members even go on to become a governor of the Trust, working with the Board of Directors to develop the services we provide to our communities.

Becoming a member

If you are already a member of any other Foundation Trust you can still become a member of our Foundation Trust, as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

To become a member you must:

• Be over 16
• Live in any of the counties that we serve.

Online: You can become a member by completing the online application form  here.

By post: Contact the membership office on via ft@swast.nhs.uk so that a form can be sent out to you.

You can withdraw your membership at any time by contacting the membership office.

The data you supply will be used only to contact you about the Trust, membership or other related issues and will be stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act.