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Welcome to the autumn edition of our bulletin and a particular welcome to those of you who are taking up your chair or non-executive positions for the first time in the appointment cycle. September, October and November are busy months, particularly for NHS trusts, and we expect to make around 720 appointments this autumn of which around 300 will be newcomers to the NHS.

To bring all newcomers quickly up to speed we will be repeating the two-day residential induction events following the formula which proved so successful earlier this year. However, we have also recognised that many new chairs would welcome advice on their new responsibilities within the first few weeks of their appointment, so we are introducing specialist induction for small groups of new chairs on a month by month basis. We will be writing to invite people at the time of their appointment or shortly afterwards (see the Training and Induction section).

In line with the recent decision by ministers, every non-executive appointed from now will have the time commitment of two and a half days set out in their Terms and Conditions.

I will be formally writing to all chairs in the next few weeks advising them that from 1 April 2004, all serving non-executives will be brought onto the same terms. From my post box I know that this issue is still a concern to some of you - and it has even been misinterpreted as reducing the effectiveness of non-executives - but ministers and the commission, together with many of you, are clear that effective governance requires a discipline that is easily eroded and squeezed out by over-involvement.

I do not believe it is for non-executives to compensate for executive shortfalls, however tempting that may be.

I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet many of you either at our Chairs' Conference 2003 in September or the NHS Alliance Conference in October.

These events are always excellent opportunities for networking and it is important for us to learn from you about the issues you are facing on your boards.

Feedback from the Chairs' Conference 2003 showed that you enjoyed the chance to hear from John Reid about his hands-off approach for the NHS and the values which motivate him.

Likewise, Nigel Crisp's reassurances about the further delegation of responsibility from the department to you at the frontline were welcomed (see the special report on the conference).

The Choice initiative, launched by Harry Cayton with the support of a devastatingly powerful video, sets us some serious challenges (see the article on choice).

Our drive to put you at the centre of improved governance continues with a series of specialist conferences for chairs of audit committees. With the department, we are planning to take forward the simplification needed for the 'integrated governance' strategy.

The more I think about it, the more self-evident it seems to me that we need our governance systems to have some reality at board level. Whatever their faults, the waiting time targets, because they are so easily understood, have been a remarkable driver for change over the years.

It will be a challenge for us and audit committees to devise effective and real summary reports which can similarly engage all board colleagues.

From talking to special health authority colleagues, it is clear that improvements need to be made to the way the department is keeping them informed. The relationship between departmental policy branches, performance managers and special health authority colleagues also needs strengthening.

Nigel Crisp tells me that an examination of arrangements is taking place as part of the review of his department and we will be keeping an eye on progress on your behalf. We are, of course, keenly interested both as a special health authority ourselves and with our particular responsibility for appointing and ensuring effective boards.

By now you should have been paid the increased remuneration due to you from April 2002. Again, from my post box, I know that many of you regard the increase as very little and worse very late. In defence of the Appointments Commission I should continue to point out that remuneration is not our responsibility.

However, I completely share your concern at the unforgivable delay and, on your behalf, I have explained your views to the department and suggested that consideration is given to any increase for 2003-2004 before another 18 months elapse. We await developments.

Some of you will recall that last year and the year before, we organised eight regional events in the summer where local chairs and non-executive directors were able to meet their regional commissioner and me for a relatively informal session of debate about current issues. A few people have told me that they were disappointed that we didn't hold events this year and, before making any decision for 2004, I would welcome your views on whether such events should be reinstated.

Finally, I am very pleased to be able to announce that from 1 November we will have three new commissioners.

For South West, Penny Bennett; for London, Jane Kelly; and for Northern and Yorkshire, Sir Alistair Graham. I am sure that those of you who don't know them already have the opportunity to meet your relevant commissioner at local events over the coming months (see their biographies under New Regional Commissioners).

In the meantime, please contact me with your views or ideas at WW.Bulletin@apcomm.nhs.uk or at the addresses in the 'About this bulletin' section.

Sir William Wells

Chairman