AS part of its bid to become a Foundation Trust, Warrington Hospital needs more people to join its membership campaign.

If North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust does get foundation trust status then hospital bosses will have much more freedom to decide how to spend money and face less control from the Government.

To be successful, the trust needs more than 3,000 public members from all over Warrington and Halton.

Anyone over the age of 12 can become a member.

Members can put their views and opinions about how the hospital is faring to hospital bosses.

The trust, which manages Warrington and Halton hospitals, is also looking at setting up a youth council for the younger members.

Members will elect hospital governors, be consulted for their views and opinions and regularly receive information from the hospitals.

Membership is free and you can join online by filling in the membership form at northcheshirehospitals.nhs.uk/foundation, or by completing a form in the hospital reception.

Foundation trusts are non-profit making NHS organisations with more freedom from central Government and more input and involvement from local people.

If the hospital is successful and becomes a foundation trust it will have much more say on how it spends its budget and on what new services it should provide.