Welcome to our Board
The Board is accountable for our vision, strategy, operational management, and financial decisions. We have a unitary Board which consists of fifteen Board Members including the Chair, seven voting Non -Executive Directors, and seven voting Executive Directors.
Executive Directors
Our Executive Directors are responsible for the day to day management of the Trust and are also part of the Board. They are lead by the Chief Executive.
Non-Executive Directors
Non-Executive Directors ensure that the Board acts in the best interests of our patients and community. They are appointed based on thier skill and experience for a specific term.
Trust Chair
The Trust Chair, who is a Non-Executive Director holds a dual role as Chair of the Board of Directors as well as the Council of Governors. This means that the Chair is responsible for leading both the Board and the Council of Governors to ensure that they are working together effectively.
Additionally, the Board also includes a Deputy Chair who deputises for the Chair when appropriate and a Senior Independent Director (SID) who is appointed by the Board made in consultation with the Council of Governors. The SID should act as the point of contact with the Board of Directors if Governors have concerns which approaches through normal channels have failed to resolve or for which such approaches are inappropriate. The SID may also act as the point of contact with the Board for Governors when they discuss for example the Chair's performance.
The Board works closely with our Council of Governors who represents the views of our local community.
Contacting the Board
All Board members may be contacted via the Corporate Governance Team via Corporate.meeting@swast.nhs.uk, South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, Abbey Court, Eagle Way, Exeter, EX2 7HY.
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Margaret Batty
Non-Executive Director
Margaret has held a number senior professional leadership positions focused on a commitment to health progress, social change and equity, and has wide experience of working for central and local government, international institutions and non- governmental organisations.
Roles have included: Director of Global Policy and Campaigns for the international charity, WaterAid; Deputy Director in the UK Government’s Cabinet Offi ce; and Board Trustee for Age International. She has also recently served as a trust public Governor. Margaret joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in September 2021. Margaret is also a Non-Executive Member on the Integrated Care Board for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West. Margaret has a passion for governance, equality and environmental issues and describes her style as: ‘constructively challenging with support, aiming to build trust through listening and investing in relationships.’