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BSc PhD CEng CGeol FIMMM FGS PFHEA
Emeritus Professor of Engineering Geology, University of Plymouth
Having been born during the early years of the NHS I have seen the benefits to society of a ‘national’ health service. Irrespective of their wealth or background people in the UK have access to top quality health care. Having travelled extensively (see profile) I know what it is like to have to pay for healthcare or have your credit card checked before receiving treatment. Like many I can thank the NHS for my life. Although I do not have the skills to treat patients, I wish to do anything I can to support the NHS mission of a free health service for all. Joining the Patients Council will enable me to use my management experience to help maintain or even improve the service that Derriford Hospital can provide to their patients.
After completing my PhD research at King’s College, London, in early 1979, I worked for the next 15 years in the civil engineering industry as an engineering geologist. This involved me in projects throughout the UK, as well as in Pakistan, Syria, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Chile, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Australia and the USA. A change of career in late 1993 took me to the University of Plymouth initially as a lecturer but I soon took over as the Head of Geology, then the Head of the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Science. In my final two years at the university I was the Dean of Research & Innovation, and a member of the senior executive team. Whilst at the university I continued to work as a consultant and was involved in projects in Georgia, Algeria and Hong Kong, as well as undertaking lecture tours in Switzerland, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.
I ‘semi- retired’ in June 2015 but continue working as a consultant, most recently in Northern Ireland, and have often been a guest or keynote lecturer at companies, conferences and universities. I am a trustee and member of the Council of the Geological Society of London, a trustee and member of the Committee of the League of Friends of Derriford Hospital as well as a volunteer in their bookshop. In addition, I continue to publish, and I am the co-author or editor of eight books and nearly 100 scientific papers.
I am married to Sarah, who volunteers for the Patient Services Team and the League of Friends. We spend our leisure time working in the garden, hiking on Dartmoor, taking opportunities to spend time with our 6 grandchildren, and travelling (having visited 75 countries together and counting).
I have been a member of the Patient Council and a volunteer at the hospital since 2018 and sit on a number of committees within the Trust as a patient representative, ensuring where possible, that the patient voice is heard. As a volunteer within the Patient Services department I input replies to the Friends and Family surveys and am constantly humbled by the kind and supportive views of the majority of patients competing the surveys. Naturally, there are sometimes negative responses and, where necessary, I try to ensure that Patient Services or the relevant department is aware of a patient's concerns so that they are followed up.
I am a retired solicitor having worked in Plymouth throughout my career and was a partner at a local firm of solicitors. For six years I sat on the Conveyancing and Land Law committee of the Law Society at national level where I also represented the Law Society on the NHBC Council and I'm a past president of Plymouth Law Society.
I am a long-life patient of Derriford Hospital, I was born with a genetic condition called Cystic Fibrosis (CF). Although CF has been challenging, I am lucky to be here today to share my experiences, not only within the hospital, but life experiences too. Despite the difficulties, I have always remained positive, with a be kind attitude, never judging and accepting others. I have witnessed the pressure the hospital staff are under, and I know how it feels to be an inpatient, and the on-going care as an outpatient.
I am a children’s book Author, and I work as a team leader at a community hub in Plymouth. Working with the community is my passion, it’s rewarding to know that the work I do, makes a difference. At the hub, we aim to reduce the feeling of loneliness and isolation, embracing the vulnerable, and make everyone feel welcome. I also love getting involved in community projects within my neighbourhood, dedicating my time as a volunteer to the local area by visiting the community centre and helping where possible.
I chose to volunteer for the patient council to give something back to the NHS, my knowledge with the community, and experience as a patient could make a difference. To be the patients voice, to be heard and to help improve the service a patient receives within the hospital. This means a lot to me due to having a long-term medical condition, not only will it help with the care I receive, but the care of others, and improving the care for the future.
I look forward to working alongside the other members of the Patient Council, to support and develop departments within Derriford hospital
I have worked in the Public Sector, Private Sector and Third Sector in a variety of roles since 1976 and have just retired from University of Plymouth where I was managing and lecturing on the Senior Leader Masters Degree Apprenticeship. Some 60% of the students in the cohorts were Senior Leaders across a variety of NHS Trust in the Region.
I recently underwent major abdominal surgery at Derriford so have been a service user in the last year. I have been the primary carer for my mother since she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's some 12 years ago.
I am also a Trustee of The Arts Society Plymouth and South Devon and Membership Secretary of Stonehouse Lawn Tennis Club.
B.E.M.
I am the Academic Partnership lead for Dementia at the Faculty of Health University of Plymouth, where I am a lecturer and a researcher.
I am also a member of the Prime Minister’s Dementia Friendly Communities Challenge Group, as the chair of the South and Southwest of England. I stepped down as a Trustee after six years on the Board nationally for the Alzheimer’s Society. I am now a National Ambassador for the Alzheimer’s Society. I am a founder member of the Plymouth Dementia Alliance and Dementia Friendly Parishes around the Yealm. I chaired the Prime Minister’s Rural Dementia group. I also chaired the Prime Minister’s National Air Transport Hidden Disability group. I am the driving force behind the Plymouth Dementia Action Alliance which won a national award of “Dementia Friendly City of the year. I am currently working with researchers from Ukraine, China, Japan, Tanzania, Ghana, and Nigeria on dementia projects, supported by the BBC World Service.
I launched the first dementia friendly community in Italy and was a keynote speaker at the Tokyo and Osaka dementia conferences. I was also a keynote speaker at the Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) conference in Krakow Poland and Japan dementia conferences in 2024. I am an active member of the British Standards Organization and International Standards Organization where I am part of a team writing the international standard for “Needihoods that Care” and the ISO standards for Dementia Inclusive Communities. I am leading on the UK’s response to dementia in Ukraine supported by the W.H.O and the Ukrainian lead for Dementia.
I am also a board member of Blind Veterans UK.
I have been a volunteer for just over a year. This has enriched my life and given even more confidence to talk to people and show compassion and be there to listen and help patients who sometimes unburden their worries to me.
My journey started after my Husband had a heart attack, then a triple heart bypass followed three days later by a stroke. He was in Derriford for over 6 weeks and the care and attention he received from the dedicated nurses and doctors made me want to give something back as they saved his life allowing us to continue to cruise and travel the world.
I volunteer at the Mustard Tree on Tuesday's and thoroughly enjoy this. Meeting patients and their families chatting to them and making teas and coffees. I also go to the cancer wards to visit patients and promote the Mustard Tree and explain what it can offer both the patient and family members though the cancer journey.
I also volunteer in the main hospital on some Saturday's delivering the meds from the pharmacy as well as meet and greet patients entering the hospital and unsure where they need to be.
In my working life I been in banking, management and customer service side of retail and am now semi retired and love cruising, reading, exploring new places and being with my grandchildren.
Being asked to join the Patient Council was an honour and again it’s a chance to speak up for the patients I encounter and to again give something back to our NHS.
Following 40 years of leading businesses ranging from small, medium UK enterprises to large, complex multinationals, I can offer a wealth of expertise in commercial, organisational, business model design and resource management to organisations. The most recent 5+ years I have been working as an external independent adviser to multiple organisations, mainly with business owners, helping them design and implement effective business models, routes to market and effective operating models to maximise people engagement and deployment.
I operated over the years in capacities including Chair, CEO, Operations Director, Sales Director and winner of 15 National Awards for Best Practice and Innovation including, notably, pioneering Barrier-Free Recruitment methodology, Large Recruitment Company of the Year and Contributor to the Association of Professional Staffing Companies. Currently, volunteering in Patient Services within Derriford Hospital, as a Radio Presenter with Hospital Radio Plymouth, as an adviser to Plymouth Hospitals Charity and recently appointed as a Trustee for Hamoaze House.
A music lover and Plymouth Argyle season ticket holder - keen to keep doing more to help business and people in the Plymouth region.
I am a Carer for my daughter who has profound and multiple learning disabilities and physical disabilities, subsequently we have had many admissions to Derriford Hospital and have experienced a range of standards of care and communication, some being excellent and some very poor. The Learning Disability Liaison Team have been very supportive and informative during admissions to hospital. I shared my story with the Patient Experience Committee and Trust Board, and from this I was asked if I would consider joining the Patient Council, I thought this would be a great platform to be able to help Carers and people with learning disabilities who use the hospital.
Through this life experience I have learnt a lot over the years and have gained vast experiences as a Carer for someone with many health needs.
I started working for the Care Quality Commission in 2018 as an Expert by Experience and do inspections mainly of Adult Residential Homes for people with severe learning disabilities/challenging behaviour and also Domiciliary Care Providers. This is where I can use my experience and try to make a difference for people with a range of needs where necessary.
I joined the Patient Council in 2018, and want to be a voice and represent the needs of Carers and people with learning disabilities who use the hospital, also for the people who live in East Cornwall, as they make up a third of all patients through the doors of Derriford Hospital.
Being part of the Patient Council enables me to gain a better understanding of how the hospital runs and be able to contribute to discussions and seek to improve the quality of care given to patients and carers.
I want to promote understanding and awareness of people with learning disabilities and carers to all staff who work in the hospital from the bottom to the top and also their awareness of what is contained in the Carer’s Policy including what Carers are entitled to whilst they are in hospital in the caring role, thus enabling them to be supported and promoting their own health and wellbeing. Hopefully this will improve the treatment and support they receive.
