Renowned historian Prof Carl Chinn MBE has pledged to become Birmingham Community Healthcare's first public member.
Prof Chinn, aged 55, has signed up to have his say as part of a new drive by the largest provider of community healthcare services to recruit members from across the city and the wider West Midlands region.
The Trust’s membership will have a significant influence over the way many of the healthcare services delivered in people’s homes, health centres, clinics and inpatient sites are developed to respond to the needs of local communities.
Prof Chinn said: “Our family has always believed in the principles of the NHS and values the dedicated and caring professionals who work so hard to help individuals, families and communities.
“Over the last two years, Birmingham Community Healthcare has provided my mom and other members of our family with the very best healthcare. I’ve been very impressed with the professionalism, commitment and compassion of all the people who have been involved with us.
“I know that the Trust’s aim is to keep on raising the quality of care and increasing the range of health services available to people closer to their own homes.
“I’m very proud to become the first official member of this Trust because its values match those of myself and my family.
“I know it plays a vital role in helping to build and sustain strong communities and it will play just as vital a role in maintaining the traditions of a great national institution that we hold dear while being flexible enough to meet the changing needs of society.
“I would urge everybody with an interest in the future of local health services in our city to join me and become a member of Birmingham Community Healthcare.
"These are essential services for our families today and for our children and grandchildren in the future and we should all take hold of this opportunity to have our say.”
