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Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Meet our Governors

To contact your local governor please email wuth.trustsecretary@nhs.net.

Philippa Boston (Trust Staff)

 

I am a staff governor, and I joined the trust in 2017 as a secretary in the Nephrology Department. Previously I worked in a GP surgery for 10 years and was very involved with the set up and running of the patient participation group. When I received the email seeking new governors, I thought it would be an interesting opportunity and would give me a different view of the Trust whilst also having the opportunity to advise and offer my perspective on the future of WUTH.

John Brace (Bidston & Claughton)

I was elected by the Bidston and Claughton constituency as a Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust governor in 2023 for a 3 year term of office starting on 18th October 2023. I am currently working as a part-time employee as a paid organist and choir leader for a Church of England parochial church council in the Liverpool diocese (St Nicholas, Blundellsands).

For the last 24 years I have been self-employed (and am also currently self-employed) and my paid careers prior to starting as governor here (which is over 2 decades) has been quite varied so far in roles (to mention just a few) that have ranged from funeral director, editor, musician, IT support, IT sales (hardware and software), website design and computer consultancy.

Recently however for the last decade my self-employed career has been mainly as a freelance journalist (editor) in new media (online and broadcast) producing output mainly on local government (with a main focus on Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council and Liverpool City Council). I also have covered court/tribunal hearings at various levels (First-tier Tribunal, Upper Tribunal, Employment Tribunal, county court, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court) as well as stories about other public sector bodies (which have included local healthcare bodies on Merseyside and the Liverpool City Region including Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust). Recently I have written about the recent strikes of doctors at Arrowe Park Hospital.

In a voluntary capacity I currently do welfare rights advice (specialising mainly in disability benefits). I’ve also previously volunteered locally:
• with a charity supporting those on the autistic spectrum,
• with a different charity supporting people with mental health problems and also
• had various roles previously connected to being a member of a political party (although for clarity I am not a member of a political party at present).

I was born on the Wirral (before Arrowe Park Hospital was opened), lived on the Wirral most of my life and was admitted multiple times to Arrowe Park Hospital as an inpatient as a child. I’ve also had various rounds of surgery (most recently in August 2022) at Arrowe Park Hospital following broken bones resulting from falls.

I’m openly disabled (with multiple different lifelong disabilities) and have particular interests in disability rights (and more widely human rights). For clarity, I’m on the autistic spectrum, have hearing problems, asthma and other disabilities and I hope during my time in office as a governor to play a part in improving healthcare at Wirral University Teaching Hospital for all staff, patients and visitors. The information above is current at the time of writing of 12th October 2023, but there is the possibility it may have changed if considerable time has elapsed.

Tony Cragg (Bebington and Clatterbridge)

I started my career in building services and facilities management and after some 20 years plus, moved into the railway industry working as a senior asset manager in property at a national level. I specialised in policy and strategy for maintenance, renewals, and major project development.
I have now retired from my consultancy company, specialising in policy-strategy and rail franchise bid support. I became a non-executive Director/Trustee of Autism Together, a Wirral based charity in 2016. It is very rewarding; I enjoy being a voice for Autism and the people we support alongside their family and friends, also using my knowledge of finance and property to influence strategic direction.

I am a people person with strong beliefs in inclusivity, being holistic in approach, not blinded to the margins, and being a conduit to voice people’s needs who may have difficulty expressing themselves. Health effects each one of us – WUTH’s Patient Experience Strategy Promise of “we care, we listen, and we act’ lead me to look to find a role, so as to get involved and be a part of it.

Paul Dixon (Oxton & Prenton)

I am married with two grown up sons and worked in Halewood Liverpool for Ford Motor Co, then Jaguar Landrover for over 40 years before retiring in 2008.

I volunteer in WUTH and Royal Liverpool Hospitals weekly and sit on the Organ Donation Committees at both hospitals, also Charitable Funds Committee at WUTH. I’m also an organ donation ambassador for NHS Blood and Transplant in the North West. As you can see, I like to be busy and do something useful for the community.

Sheila Hillhouse (New Brighton and Wallasey) - Lead Governor

I was elected Public Governor in 2017 and have been Lead Governor since 2021. I am a registered nurse and midwife and have over 30 years of experience in the NHS, including commissioning services. During my time as Public Governor I have attended the Quality and Workforce Assurance Committees and have taken part in reviews of different areas of the hospital working with executives and non-executives.

I welcome the opportunity of being the collective voice for both Public and Staff governors. My experience in the NHS provides me with the skills to ask challenging questions in order to fulfil the statutory requirements of the role of the Lead Governor. I am passionate about ensuring the delivery of safe effective quality healthcare and the involvement of the patient, their family and carers in the decision-making process.

Christine House (Liscard and Seacombe)

More information coming soon.

Eileen Hume (Greasby, Frankby, Irby and Upton) - Deputy Lead Governor

I have been a public governor at WUTH for nearly 7 years. It is a role I really enjoy being involved in many of the committees that oversee the governance of WUTH. My work history is varied. I started out after university as a teacher I then returned to university and retrained in Library and Knowledge Management.

I later encompassed the role of a borough archivist for a metropolitan borough. My final role was at WUTH where I was appointed as Head of Library and Knowledge Services (LKS). I retired in 2014 leaving the LKS as one of the top performing NHS library and knowledge services in the North West.

Paul Ivan (Leasowe, Moreton and Saughall Massie)

I am a medical doctor with 25 years experience shared mainly between NHS and Clinical Research industry. I also have a lot of first hand experience as a patient and user of the local health services as I have been living in Moreton along with my wife and two children  for nearly 15 years.

I was elected Public Governor at WUTH in October 2021 and prior to that I had been  Public  Governor of  Wirral Community NHS trust for another 3 years.

I am familiar with  the advantages and disadvantages of our health care system as well as  the challenges that NHS hospital trusts and their patients are currently  facing. I strongly believe that involvement of local community and  regular feedback from patients are the two key elements for the success of any NHS Hospital Trust and I will work to achieve that during my term as a governor.

Together, we can shape a better future for our health care services.

 

 

 

Keith Johns (Neston & Burton)

I have lived in Neston for c 40 years, and worked in Liverpool in H.R. until retirement in 1999. When retired, I have done some lay assessment work in respect of GP Practices and Community Pharmacists and Consultant Excellence Awards. I have been treated for a variety of generally minor conditions in the NHS, Private Medicine and the health systems of Italy, Singapore and Hong Kong. We, Pat and me, have 4 children and 6 relatively young grandchildren.  We also have 2 dogs, Fergus and Bryn so walking is a regular activity.

Dr Anand Kamalanathan (Trust Staff - Medical and Dental)

I have been a Staff Governor since the end of last year. I am a Consultant neonatal paediatrician and have been working at WUTH since 2011. I am the Clinical Director for Children’s services at WUTH and work with the team on the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Teaching and training are a special interest on mine. I am a Coach and a Human factors simulation instructor. My family, dog and music help me maintain a good work life balance.

Reverend Peter Israel Peters (North West and North Wales)

I was born and raised in Southern Nigeria. I am a Church Minister with Elim Church Network, pastoring Centre 4 Renewal Church in Ellesmere Port, and a part time Chaplain at the Countess of Chester Hospital. I'm also an Honorary Chaplain with the Royal Air Force, serving as the Padre of the 1074 Air Cadets Squadron, Ellesmere Port. I also sit as a member of the Independent Advisory Group (IAG) for Cheshire Constabulary. I stood for the election to contribute my experience and give back to NHS.

Ann Taylor (Trust Staff - Nurses and Midwives (AP))

I have worked in Substance Misuse for over 30 years both community and hospital based, educated to Masters Level and an NMP. I have completed secondments, Commissioning Teenage Pregnancy Services also Research and Audit, and have worked in Australia for 10 years as a gastro Nurse Consultant.

I work across Arrowe Park and Clatterbridge and look after patients and staff regarding substance misuse. I feel I am approachable, have a solid understanding of the problems, nurses from all disciplines face daily.  I am passionate about delivering effective, supportive services and championing equity in care.

Robert Thompson (Heswall, Pensby and Thingwall)

I am a retired consultant physician (rheumatologist). Having had a rewarding career in the health service I wanted to give something back and hope my experience will be helpful in supporting the Trust where I have also been a patient.

Gary Bennett (Appointed Governor – Wirral Council)

I am currently a newly elected member of Wirral Borough Council who also has a full-time job as a Hackney Cab Driver. As part of my role as a Councillor, I have been appointed to various committees. These committees include the Constitution and Standards Committee and the Tourism Leisure Community and Culture Committee. I am committed to working hard in these committees to make a positive impact in our community and ensure that the needs of our residents are being met.

I served as a member of HM Forces from May 1978 till August 1986, then worked as a HGV Driver till 1992, at which point I became a hackney cab driver. In this job, I meet the public daily in an informal capacity and with the interaction with them, I gain a grassroots indication of people's feelings.

My life experiences over the years have instilled in me a sense of confidence in my own abilities.  If I do not know the answer to a question, I will admit that I do not know the answer and seek advice.  I also believe that if you give a person respect, that person should also return that respect. One personal trait that has remained with me since I left the Army is that I believe that if I am not 5 minutes early for an appointment, I am late.

Julie McManus (Appointed Governor – Wirral Council)

Julie McManus is a Labour Cllr in Bidston St. James ward.

A former Human Resource Manager for several large logistic and manufacturing companies, more recently working in the charity sector.

Now retired Julie was first elected in 2016. She is Chair of the Merseyside Pensions Fund and an active member of the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee. Julie is also a member of the Wirral place based partnership board.

Julie has a keen interest in seeing Wirral become a more dementia friendly borough by listening to and working with the experts - those living with a dementia and those caring for people living with a dementia.

Neil Wright (Bromborough & Eastham)

“I have previously worked for WUTH as a Biomedical Scientist from 1993 until 2012.  Prior to that, I worked at the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

During my time with WUTH I was a senior representative for Unite and was Chair of the joint staff side unions.  I was also a Governor, representing Other Healthcare Professional Staff.

I retired in 2012 to become a full-time carer for my wife.  Since her passing, I am now able to devote more time to the wider community.

Amongst other interests, I play crown green bowls and take part in a local quiz league.”