With two big elections looming we have to observe two so-called  "purdah" periods.

They are ahead of:

*  the 2016 English local government elections

*  the referendum on the UK’s membership of the European Union (EU).

The purdah dates are from March 30 to May 5 - the day of the local elections and May 27 to June 23 for the Euro vote.

During these times it is important for NHS trusts and foundation trusts to avoid influencing or creating any impression of influencing either local election campaigns or the referendum campaign.