HEALTHWATCH HERTFORDSHIRE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Representative
- Treasurer of the Board
In addition to his role as a Healthwatch Trustee, Alan Bellinger is a patient representative on the West Herts Diabetes Steering Group and member of the Hertfordshire Diabetes Conference Steering Group.
After retirement from a successful career in the private sector (working in both training and Information Technology), Alan wanted to get involved in supporting local health issues and improving the patient experience.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Programme Manager
Alex is a Programme Manager working for a large retailer and has extensive experience delivering change impacting large numbers of customers/employees, developing strategy and managing stakeholder communications. He cares about developing the skills of others and putting individuals at the heart of decision-making.
Outside of work, Alex is an approved foster carer/adopter. Through this role and his family's own experiences, he has experience of both the children and adult social care sector, as well as the NHS. He is also a volunteer leader in a local scout group.
Alex is passionate about ensuring that service users are at the heart of decision-making and that the experiences of users of the diverse/lesser known services across health and social care are heard.
After completing her degree at Bangor University, Alice started working at Healthwatch Hertfordshire in spring 2016. Since then, she has turned her hand to most things in the organisation including project work, team support, general administration and website administration. She is also a key member of the signposting team and has a real passion for ensuring the patient experience gets heard.
Asha has a BA in Sociology and a MA in Social Research Methods. She first became interested in health research through her master's dissertation which focused on the experiences of women with breast cancer post-mastectomy. Asha acts as a Research Officer, working on a range of projects that engage service users and is passionate about improving the health and social care of people from all different walks of life.
After completing her degree in Social and Political Sciences, Chloe joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2019. Chloe leads on our Research and Engagement programme, developing, designing and delivering high quality research and engagement projects with the aim of improving health and social care services in Hertfordshire. She is passionate about influencing change, and improving the care patients receive.
When a close family member became affected by mental illness, Eve witnessed first-hand the facilities, treatment, system support and various institutions that some people affected by mental illness endure in the mental health care system.
A need to share observations, accumulated knowledge and the drive to improve patient experiences encouraged Eve to join Healthwatch Hertfordshire (HwH). A Governor at HPFT representing HwH, Eve is involved with various groups reviewing mental health care processes and practices. Eve is also a Mental Health Act Manager and as such, attends statutory hearings where service users can appeal against their detention under the Mental Health Act.
Fiona is committed to ensuring the public voice is heard, holding decision makers to account and working collaboratively to improve the experiences of citizens. This commitment carries through from over 10 years of experience in Local Government democracy, scrutiny and governance at county and district councils and the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny. Prior to that, Fiona worked in Further Education as an ESOL Lecturer. Her most recent role, prior to joining Healthwatch Hertfordshire was Head of Scrutiny for Hertfordshire County Council, which included leading on county-wide Health Scrutiny. Fiona is also a parent carer, providing her with a depth of understanding of navigating health and social care systems and services, from her own lived experience.
As Chief Executive of Healthwatch Hertfordshire since it began in 2013, Geoff has shaped and developed a successful organisation with a strong reputation. His work as a consultant advising Councils and the NHS, following a career in local government, gives him the strategic insight and vision to lead on a challenging agenda in health and social care. His career experience is significant and includes corporate leadership roles in areas such as performance, policy, equalities communications and community engagement.
Geoff chairs the East of England Healthwatch Network and represents the Healthwatch Network on the East of England Applied Research Collaborations Board.
Jan worked in the NHS for over 30 years as a Therapeutic Radiographer, and retired from her role as Radiotherapy Service Manager in 2006. While in that role she gained a wide experience of cancer service provision, local, regional and national strategic planning, training and education.
Since then, she has been involved as a member of the Board of Governors at the United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, volunteered with Healthwatch Wiltshire, and upon moving into the area with Healthwatch Hertfordshire. Jan has also worked part-time as Programme Manager for the Soldiering On Awards, honouring the achievements of armed forces veterans.
Jan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of many aspects of service provision to the Board, as well as an appreciation of the challenges faced by health & care services.
Job Titles:
- Quality Manager
- Quality Manager and Enter & View Lead
Jane acts as the lead on quality and improvement in health and social care services across Hertfordshire and has over 10 years of experience working in this sector and prior to that 15 years in adult training and development. She manages our Enter and View programme and related quality monitoring activities.
With a 20-year career working in the public sector followed by five years as a self-employed consultant, Jo brings a broad range of skills and experience to her role as Projects Manager with Healthwatch Hertfordshire. A background in policy, performance, project management and communications means she can diversify and help the organisation to develop. Projects include a review of volunteering, plans for a new website, development of a new Communications Approach and the publication of the 2020 Annual Report. She is committed to helping to make a difference.
Michelle has a background in journalism and public relations, and has written for newspapers, magazines and helped publicise Government departments, travel firms and a water company. She has also reviewed work for the National Institute for Health Research. Michelle's role is to promote our work to the public and provide communications support to the team.
Miriam joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2022, after completing her degree in Sociology. She works as part of the Research and Engagement team, supporting and leading in a wide range of projects. With a background of working in Community Pharmacy, Miriam has always had a keen interest in health and social care and is committed to making a positive difference to the care that Hertfordshire communities receive.
Job Titles:
- Finance & Resources Manager
Natalie's role as the Finance & Resources Manager involves managing payroll and all financial transactions. She runs management accounts on a monthly basis for the Executive Team and Board to enable effective budget management, which leads to the preparation of the end of year accounts. She also manages the organisation's insurance policies and supports with Health and Safety compliance. Natalie is always happy to help and support the team by organising any resources required to help run the business.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Chief Executive - Governance & Operations
Nuray has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and English. She has worked for Homestart in Kent and at a large medical centre in London, both of which gave her insight and experience into the importance of excellent communication and customer care.
As Deputy Chief Executive - Governance & Operations, Nuray's main roles are to work closely with Board to ensure compliance by the organisation, with its regulatory, statutory and legal obligations. She is also responsible for planning and managing the organisation's operational duties such as staffing and resourcing. Nuray is also Healthwatch Hertfordshire's Company Secretary.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Senior Commissioner for a London Borough
Ramone currently works as a Senior Commissioner for a London Borough and has gained over 20 years' experience in housing, health, and social care. Ramone is passionate about improving health outcomes for the wider population and preventing ill health. In her current role she focuses on improving services in collaboration with residents, using project management and analysis skills to do so.
Working part-time as a health and fitness trainer, Ramone has supported those with learning disabilities, older people and those with mental health issues to increase physical activity and maintain good health outcomes.
Sam completed his BA in Sociology at the University of Exeter with a focus on the medical industry. After working as a copywriter at an advertising agency, he joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2023. His aim is to make a difference to the lives of people in Hertfordshire by improving the quality of care they receive.
Susan has a great deal of administration experience from a number of years working within the Homewares industry. She was however very happy to try something different and take the opportunity to work for an organisation involved in health and social care when it arose.
Susan manages, reviews and disseminates emails within our Info@ email account. She also manages the process for monthly team meetings, and maintains the organisation's subscriber database. As a member of the signposting team, Susan hears patient experiences and ensures these are recorded on the database so that the information can be used for reporting purposes.