Foundation Trust and Council of Governors

Originally from Wales, I have lived in Appleton, Warrington for more than 20 years.

I have a long association with the hospital, having given birth to my son there 28 years ago!

I am semi-retired, having spent many years auditing hospitals and primary care facilities throughout Europe.

As a former director of The Institute of Clinical Research I understand the importance of governance and standards in clinical practice and teach good clinical practice in the NHS, universities and pharmaceutical companies.

I genuinely want to use my skills and enthusiasm to listen to patients’ feedback and effect change to aid the patients’ experience and enable best practice in our hospital.

In my spare time I sit on a Health Research Ethics Committee.
In addition, I have authored articles and books on clinical research and co-authored The Oxford Handbook on Clinical and Healthcare Research.

Outside of work I’m a member of a church and village choir.

As a Warrington resident for over 30 years, I care passionately about supporting my community to receive high quality care.

The NHS and hospitals have always played a big part in my life from attending hospital for many years as a child to then working in partnership with clinicians in my career in the pharmaceutical industry.

I have always marvelled at the amazing skills, treatments, services and above all people that work within them. In order to keep in touch with demand, expectation and change it is crucial for local health services to listen to their community and respond accordingly which is why I have decided to apply for the role of hospital governor.

During my career I became very familiar with NHS hospital structure, patient flows and funding flows and often read board meeting notes to understand the challenges that these services face. In addition to this, I have gained various skills and qualifications in leadership, coaching and management. These transferable skills will enable me to take on the governor role and be accountable to my community.

Currently I am semi-retired and run my own business. I am an executive coach and practitioner in resilience, wellbeing and psychological safety I have a warm personable style and enjoy being part of a team. I pride myself in being a good listener, someone people can trust and build confidence in. I now have the capacity and would be delighted to take on the role of hospital governor and give something back.

As a lifelong resident of Warrington, I am passionate about contributing to the health and wellbeing of the community that has shaped me. 

My journey through both professional and personal roles has always been rooted in service, advocacy, and collaboration. 

I’ve been fortunate to witness first-hand the impact that strong, compassionate leadership can have and this drives my-commitment as a newly elected governor.

Serving as a governor allows me to channel my skills and experiences into ensuring that our healthcare services remain responsive, inclusive, and sustainable.

I am dedicated to ensuring that the voices of Warrington residents are heard, and that we work together to overcome challenges while maintaining the high standards of care our community deserves.

Read more about why Catherine became a governor.

With extensive experience in the NHS as a former clinician, medical educator, and non-executive director (NED), I have been a resident and professional in the local area for 40 years. My three sons attended local schools, further connecting me to the community.

My specific focus on children’s services stems from my 22 years as a consultant child psychiatrist in Halton, during which I developed a passion for education and training, taking on various roles in medical education. After retiring from clinical practice, I served as Associate Dean for Mersey Deanery and later for Health Education England North West until 2016, concentrating on leadership, mentoring, coaching, and quality improvement. Additionally, I contributed to the MA in Clinical Education course at Edge Hill University.

I spent six years as a NED at Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals, where I valued collaboration with the Board and Trust staff. As the NED maternity champion, I found it rewarding to witness the advancements in maternity services in the region.

In my capacity as NED, I chaired the Quality Committee, emphasising the significance of clinical governance in delivering high-quality care and safe services. I engaged in observation visits with executive team members and governors, appreciating the insights gained from patient and staff feedback, which I intend to continue as a governor.

My clinical experience involved working with children and families in community settings, where I recognised the necessity of strong connections with primary care and other community services. I am eager to contribute as a governor as the Trust enhances its engagement with community services.

Find out more about why Margaret became a governor.

I am delighted to have been elected as a governor of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I look forward to working with governors and executives and using my knowledge and experience to support the Trust in delivering the best possible care for the residents of Warrington and Halton. 

I recently retired from the NHS after 35 years in a variety of senior management roles, most recently focusing on the implementation of digital health systems, which are critical to the delivery of patient care. Throughout my career, I have worked hard to deliver changes that have had a positive impact on both patients and the staff who care for them. I always aim to act with integrity and remain committed to supporting improvements in health services that reflect the needs of our local population. During my career I have worked closely with GPs and local authority colleagues and have engaged with community groups to ensure that changes to health services reflect the views of those who use them.

I have experience of working in both hospital and community services, which I believe will be valuable for the proposed integration with Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Throughout my career, I have lived in Warrington for more than 20 years and I’m married with two adult sons. Since retiring, I have volunteered regularly on the Warrington Hospital welcome desk, where I have seen the hospital from the patient’s perspective, often at times when they feel most vulnerable. I am also committed to helping my local community through membership of my GP surgery’s patient participation group, volunteering in a primary school helping children with their reading and serving as secretary of my local running club. I am a keen runner, enjoy outdoor swimming and love walking and hiking.

I am passionate about the NHS and strongly believe in all that it represents. 

Before my retirement, I was an executive headteacher and a national leader of education, supporting schools all over the country.  I held two substantive executive headships; both schools held outstanding school status, and both were appointed national teaching school status under my leadership.  My final role before retirement was executive headteacher of Great Sankey High School, Warrington. I was a late entrant to teaching and, before entering the profession, I worked as a sales and marketing director for a large engineering company. 

I am a trustee of Southlands College London, and prior to this, I held the post of chair of trustees for all the Methodist schools in England. I have been a magistrate for over 21 years and, until May 2024, was chair of the Magistrates for Cheshire. In addition, I am a deputy lieutenant of Cheshire.  

I am delighted to have been elected as a governor of the trust. I will support and encourage the executive team with their ambitions and vision for the Trust but, where necessary, will challenge to ensure all users are given the best quality care and provision. 

I am married and have two grown-up sons who are also married. I am a very proud grandfather to two wonderful grandsons.  

Read more about why Alan became a governor. 

I’m married with three children, five grandchildren and one foster grandchild and I was born and have lived most of my life in Warrington, witnessing it grow into the town it is today.

I worked for Warrington Borough Council for nearly 10 years and at British Aluminium in Bank Quay for over 12 years. I have also lived in Ashton-Under-Lyne for approximately 10 years, where I was a trade union convenor in the textile industry and was elected as a local councillor in one of the 10 most deprived wards in the country. I also ran two pubs with my wife for a number of years.

One of my driving forces is representing people who cannot represent themselves for whatever reason. My work as a convenor and councillor also taught me to listen and try to look further than the obvious and try to foresee potential problems and solutions.

In my fifties I studied at Warrington Collegiate/Chester University to be able to train, assess and verify core skills in the warehousing and logistics industries. All of my life and work experiences have demonstrated to me that there are a great number of ways we can provide help and assistance to another; to ensure nobody gets left behind.

Having been an NHS patient in hospitals in Warrington, Halton, Tameside, St Helens and at the Walton Centre, my family and I have benefited from their excellent care, saving my life in one instance. The road I have travelled led me to volunteer as a way to pay back in some small way for all that I have received.

I am a huge fan of the concept of medical treatment which is free at source and of our NHS as the world leader of that provision.  So many people rely on the NHS in Warrington and as a governor I am in a position to ensure that the non-executive directors ask the challenging questions to ensure we receive answers for people in the boroughs we are fortunate to represent.

I’m proud to have been elected as public governor for WHH representing the community where I’ve lived for 20 years.

Just after we moved to our house in 2018, my husband had a heart attack and his subsequent treatment both in Warrington Hospital and Broadgreen Hospital was fantastic and inspirational. My gratitude was overwhelming, so much so that I vowed to ‘give something back’. In early 2019 I started my journey to become a volunteer for WHH and continue that today. I love walking the corridors as a wayfinder, helping visitors find their way around the hospital. Every time I get someone where they need to be with kindness, care and compassion it clearly makes a huge difference to their day. I get something back each time I give my time to the Trust and the NHS.

I’ve enjoyed a successful business career within the private sector primarily in sales, marketing and journalism in the UK and Dubai, but latterly in construction project management delivering wind farms across northern Europe. All these roles involved using positive interpersonal skills as well as scrupulous attention to detail and ensuring the highest standards for the customer and end-user. Business improvement has been a fundamental tenet of my working life, as there is always a way to review and improve the way things are done and deliver better! Perhaps it’s my inquisitive nature and yearning to learn but I’m keen to understand why things work and how we can do things better, for the benefit of all.

I’m also a spiritual life coach, enabling and helping people become the best version of themselves through enlightenment, self-searching and self-development and I’m always learning and developing as that’s part of life’s journey.

I am now delighted to represent our community as a public governor, ensuring our NHS is appreciated and remains ‘fantastic for us all’ and doing this work, be the WHH Trust’s critical, yet supportive, friend.

Underpinned by a long clinical and academic nursing career I am passionate about the promotion and provision of high standards of healthcare. A resident in the locality for over 20 years I care about equity and fairness in accessing healthcare, I regard inclusivity as important, I embrace diversity and care about people and the needs of others.

My clinical background brings an understanding of the context of local and national health and social care needs, together with an awareness of existing and growing health inequalities. As a researcher I recognise the importance of an evidence base and I have experience of working with patients as equal partners, offering essential insight into the effective use of patient and carer perspectives.

My career has been defined by integrity, enthusiasm, and commitment to the safe and effective provision of health and social care. As a governor I intend to use my skills, experience, and attributes to represent the interests of the local community and contribute to driving any necessary health and care improvements.

It is my pleasure to now serve as a governor of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, having also been a governor with another local NHS trust, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, for the past six years.

During that time, I contributed to a range of areas, with a particular focus on children’s services and patient engagement.

With WHH set to integrate with Bridgewater in April 2026, the new organisation will be responsible for both acute and community services and I believe it is important that the governing body includes people with experience of NHS services delivered in the community and in hospital.

With my significant knowledge of community services I will work with all my governor colleagues to ensure decisions reflect the wider range of services and patients served by the newly integrated trust.

I think it is particularly important that patients have the opportunity to shape the care they receive. I am keen to make sure the voice of patients and the public continues to be heard when setting future directions for the organisation and its services.

Read more about why Matt became a governor.

I have devoted my career to health, having practised and have worked within the NHS, industry, county councils and retail, advising companies on health and safety legislation and carrying out statutory and non-statutory medicals, health surveillance and case management. I started up my own occupational health consultancy in 1996 and still work on a consultancy basis.

I have knowledge of the demands of a large organisation, understanding of the need for financial control and the importance of excellent patient/employee care.

I have good working relationships with the members of the Board and the Senior Management Team.

As a practising Christian, I have attended All Saints’ Church, Daresbury, for 20 years and am a Lay Reader, conducting services and providing pastoral care.

I have lived in the area covered by the Trust for 33 years, so am keen to ensure residents have access to high-quality and timely health services.

I’m proud to have been elected as public Governor for WHH Trust representing our community where I’ve lived with my family for 27 years. 

My wife, who is an NHS key worker, and I have two adult daughters who have both lived with type 1 diabetes from a young age, supported throughout by our fantastic local NHS. 

I’ve enjoyed a successful career with over 20 years' board level experience in both public and private sector complex organisations, including driving service improvements for vulnerable citizens, in partnership with local communities.

I led a UK team to successfully reduce UK pensioner poverty, increasing take up of benefits and services. 

Also, supporting Cheshire, Warrington, and Greater Manchester authorities with their local public service transformation initiatives including health and wellbeing partnerships. 

I am now delighted to represent our community, ensuring our NHS is ‘fantastic for us all’. 

Read more about why Nigel became a governor.

Warrington Hospital holds a special place in my heart. Both of my daughters were born here, and it’s been a part of my family’s life during some of our most meaningful moments.

With over 10 years of experience improving services in complex organisations, I’ve learned how to listen, solve problems, and focus on what really matters to people. As a dad and a governor, I want to ensure every patient and family feels supported and valued, just as I did.

I’m passionate about bringing a strategic focus to the care and patient experience our hospitals provides. By listening to the voices of patients, carers, and staff, I aim to support the Trust in continuing to deliver exceptional care while adapting to the community’s needs.

It’s a privilege to contribute to the future of our hospitals, helping it grow and thrive for generations to come.

I have lived in Culcheth with my husband Kevin for 30 years and feel proud to be part of such a supportive community. Over this time, I’ve come to appreciate how important the NHS is in people’s lives. I also know how much difference it makes when care feels seamless and communication is clear, helping patients and staff have the best possible experience.

I have more than 40 years’ experience working in senior leadership roles in the civil service, where I have led largescale change and supported colleagues through major transitions. I have managed large teams and focused on improving performance and customer experience. This background gives me a strong understanding of the full patient journey and where improvements can have real impact. I look forward to using this experience to support WHH as we continue to strengthen the way services work together.

My ambition is for WHH to be recognised for excellence, where patients have a clear and straightforward ‘once and done’ experience. Having received care at Warrington Hospital myself, I know how achievable this is and how much it matters.

I am also passionate about supporting staff. The people who make up the Trust are its greatest strength, and creating an environment where they feel valued and supported is essential to delivering consistent, high-quality care. I want to make a positive contribution and help build on the strong foundations already in place as we work towards a future-ready NHS.

I have been a nurse since 1990 and have spent the last 25 years of my career at Warrington Hospital, dedicating my working life to compassionate care, teamwork and supporting both patients and colleagues. Working across many different clinical settings has shaped my values and the nurse I am today.

I believe that small acts of kindness, clear communication and a supportive working environment can make a genuine difference to both staff morale and patient outcomes.

For the past seven years, I have been a diabetes specialist nurse, helping patients and families understand and manage their condition. I have delivered education sessions, supported those newly diagnosed and worked closely with GPs and dietitians to develop more joined-up care. Watching patients grow in confidence and take control of their health has been incredibly rewarding.

Alongside this, I have supported our international nurses as a clinical education nurse, guiding them through their clinical skills exams and helping them settle into life in Warrington. Their journeys have reminded me of the importance of kindness, mentorship and inclusion—values I strive to promote every day.

I have also completed the professional nurse advocate course at Keele University, which strengthened my skills in listening, reflective practice and supporting staff wellbeing. I am passionate about creating a workplace where colleagues feel valued, supported and motivated.

Outside of work, I serve as an officer for a local ethnic community group, which has enabled me to build stronger connections within our diverse local community.

I am also an active participant in the yearly WHH community events and want to use my experience, community insight and commitment to staff wellbeing to contribute at a strategic level. Championing the voices of staff and patients will strengthen collaboration and help shape a culture we can all be proud of.

My NHS career spans nearly twenty years, progressing from trainee to head of medical engineering. WHH is not only my workplace but also my local hospital, and with both of my sons born here, I have a strong personal connection and a deep commitment to its continued success. I believe that everyone should have an equal opportunity to develop their talents. This principle guides my leadership and underpins my commitment to creating fair, supportive and empowering environments for colleagues at every level.

My experience as a school governor has strengthened my governance skills and reinforced the value of transparency, collaboration and inclusive leadership. I have been a committed advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, and freedom to speak up. During the pandemic, I led the Trust’s multi-ethnic staff network, ensuring colleagues were heard and supported, and I supported the Covid-19 vaccination programme for staff and the wider community. I also played a key role in introducing reciprocal mentoring at WHH to support leadership development and elevate underrepresented voices.

My professional experience, lived perspective and long-standing connection to WHH continue to drive my passion for fairness, inclusion and engagement. I remain committed to supporting a positive, safe and inclusive culture where everyone can thrive.

Read more about why Suresh became a governor. 

Currently principal and CEO of Warrington and Vale Royal College, Nichola is a skilled and determined leader in Further Education, with expansive, sectoral knowledge and professional experience spanning 30 years. Values-driven and customer-focused with a demonstrable track record of achievement, Nichola is a passionate advocate of further education as transformative with a strong belief in education and skills as a key driver of economic recovery and growth. 

Nichola sees the college as an anchor institution within the communities it serves, with core responsibilities to provide progressive education and skills training and life-long learning that is inclusive and adding in social value. Nichola strives to make the college a happy, vibrant, sustainable place to work and study, placing a great deal of emphasis on the health and wellbeing of the people within the college community such that they thrive.

Nichola holds a BA (Hons), a PGCE, a Masters in Research and the CIM Diploma in Marketing.

Hailing from Poynton, Cheshire, Nichola now lives in Manchester and identifies as a ‘proud northener’. Nichola is a mother of identical twin girls, both of whom have recently completed their studies at university and are contemplating next steps. Nichola is a lover of the great outdoors and she champions the protection of the environment, animals and wild, natural spaces. A keen walker, open water swimmer and a pilates teacher, Nichola is also an advocate of healthy ageing.

My name is Mansimran Singh (Mani). I am an engineering professional living and working in Warrington for the last 12 years. I live with my wife (IT professional) and our 10 year old son who was born in the then newly refurbished Maternity Ward in 2013.

Our NHS Trust is at the heart of our community, providing essential services and care to those in need. As a partner governor, I am filled with a strong sense of responsibility and commitment to our shared mission of delivering the highest quality healthcare to the communities we serve.

My primary focus will be to ensure that our Trust continues to uphold the highest standards of patient care, safety, and wellbeing. I am committed to working collaboratively with our dedicated staff, stakeholders, and the public to ensure that our services are responsive, efficient, and aligned with the needs and expectations of our patients.

I will be actively engaging with both our internal teams and the broader community to listen, learn, and advocate for improvements where needed. I believe that transparency, communication, and collaboration are key to our success.