Our Board
Our Board works to ensure that we are fulfilling our legal and statutory obligations. You can find out more about our Board below.
Dr Kathryn Drury (Chair)
Throughout my life I have been a user of services within the borough. I trained as a nurse at Wigan Infirmary from 1982-1985. On qualifying I worked in the borough in various roles until 2005. These roles gave me connection to local communities and the work of the services that supported them.
In 2005 I moved into Education at Edge Hill University. I had completed a degree in Specialist Community Public Health Practice at University of Central Lancashire, and this is what I went to teach at Edge Hill.
I have gone on to develop my career in Health, Social Care & Medical Education becoming a Doctor of Education in 2017. My personal and professional values underpin my involvement with service provision and scrutiny of local services.
I believe that service developments can only be effective if they respond to the needs of the people they are serving. Engaging people in the decisions on things that will directly affect them is the best way to motivate them to make use of the services available.
Lynne Hamnett (Vice Chair)
I’ve worked for Embrace Wigan and Leigh for the past 18 years. I’m very passionate about Advocacy and supporting individuals and their families to understand their rights. I sit on a number of strategic groups in Wigan and Leigh, helping to reshape services and building on the DEAL principles.
I am delighted to be a Director of Healthwatch Wigan, where I can share my knowledge and experience with this amazing organisation that is making a huge difference to the citizens of Wigan and Leigh.
Dave Suddell - Director
I spent most of my working life as a design engineer in the Nuclear Industry. My leisure interest has always been the great outdoors and for many years I've been an active member of a mountaineering club holding various voluntary management roles. I have enjoyed many years walking, climbing and skiing extensively in the UK, Europe and Worldwide.
When I retired, I decided to seek voluntary work and discovered Healthwatch via a presentation at my GP practice's Patients Group. I was impressed by the work Healthwatch does as an independent body for NHS and Social Care Services and I am enthusiastic about unraveling the 'mysteries' of Health and Social Care and helping to highlight the problems faced by the patients.
Stuart Parsons - Director
Ernie Rothwell
Born and bred in Leigh. I am a chartered electrical engineer by profession specialising in secure power systems. I have travelled extensively mainly in Europe as I worked for 30 years with a large German manufacturer.
I’m a keen walker and chairman of a Leigh rambling club. I’m also a keen follower of sport of all kinds.
As a volunteer I’ve been involved in in patient engagement for the NHS in the Primary Care arena for 18 years or so. I chair the Leigh PCN Patient Engagement Group and am a patient representative both at the Leigh PCN Executive and at the Wigan Borough Level committees. My aim is to endeavor to promote patient engagement throughout the Borough particularly in deprived areas. As a new member of the Board, I see Healthwatch as a key part of understanding and reflecting the patient view.
Past Board papers
We make the papers for our public Board meetings available online. We also publish a summary of what was discussed. Check out our past meetings to read more.