Council of Governors

Jennifer Flack

Basildon - 3 year term

As a resident of Basildon since 1987 and working as a Specialist Nurse at Basildon Hospital for 28 years prior to taking early retirement in 2018, I now want to use my local knowledge and healthcare skills as a Governor of MSE NHS Foundation Trust.  

My nursing career began in 1980, progressing to specialising in infection prevention and control in 1987.  I have been involved in many changes to the health service in general and specifically in the delivery of care at Basildon hospital.  As an Infection Prevention and Control Specialist Nurse, my role was pro-active with education, audit and research, being resilient and adaptive to the constant waves of change.  I consider myself to be approachable, previously working with all levels of staff; from ‘Ward to Board’ and communicating with patients and their families. 

My role within this large, busy organisation involved working with all specialties including Estates, Cleaning, Purchasing and Education, as well as outside agencies such as the Clinical Commissioning Groups, Public Health England and the Care Quality Commission.   This has given me insight not only from a staff perspective, but how others perceived our Hospital and their expectations of it's care and service.

I am also an active member in Scouting, enjoying involvement in both District and County events.  Scouting has an important role with young people within our community. 

I value this opportunity to represent the local community as a Governor and to continue to play a part in our local evolving healthcare provision.

Steve Abbott

Basildon - 3 year term

Steve is a retired NHS CIO / Part time University lecturer with 30+ years of achievement in leveraging technologies to drive organisational performance, growth, financial sustainability, and expand intellectual property capital. Acts as a change agent, capable of orchestrating transformative business strategy through data-driven decisions and by influencing critical stakeholders. He champions digital innovation with a focus on developing robust, flexible, scalable and value enhancing solutions to resolve complex and messy organisational problems. He has diverse experience in healthcare, local government, logistics and consulting and is passionate about developing people to achieve and to deliver to their full potential.

Marlene Moura

Basildon - 2 year term

Marlene has lived in Essex since 1974. She has worked as a Nurse for over 40 years, 12 years in Malawi and Zambia, as well as 20 years in the Trust's Operating Theatres.  She has also been a Trustee for St Lukes Hospice since 1998.

Marlene has become a Governor as she feels it will be an interesting experience and hopes to contribute further to health care.

Marlene has been a volunteer since her retirement in 1997. She has monitored and reviewed health services as a member of CHC, PPIH and now Essex and Southend LINk (soon to become Healthwatch). As a LINk Member, Marlene attends the the Hospital's Patient Panel, Cancer User group and Maternity Services Liaison Committee.

Vivien Burling

Basildon - 2 year term

I had only lived in Billericay for 3 months when I became a Governor representing Basildon,   having previously lived in Castle Point for 48 years.  I was initially elected as a Governor at Southend University Trust in September 2016, where I served until July 2019. I then stayed on as a ‘caretaker Governor’, until October 2020, when I was again elected as a Governor but now representing Basildon.  

I have been retired for 11 years, having previously worked in a Local Authority for 28 years. I had various roles during this period, but for the last 10 years was an Internal Auditor.  On retirement I became a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau, where I stayed for 8 years; I was also active in the local branch of the Workers Education Association where I held the post of Treasurer for 9 years, and as a boat owner I held the position of Secretary for 5 years at my local yacht club. 

When I am not involved with the hospital I am a great keep fit fan; running or exercise classes most days, I enjoy the theatre and the arts generally and love to travel. I have one adult daughter and one adult grandson. They both live in the local area.
I became a Governor to try and make a difference and understand how the hospital worked when my husband had been ill for a long period.  Towards the later part of his illness I became his carer until he died.
 
During my period as Governor I attended many events to meet the public, chaired the Patient & Carer Experience Group and was Governor representative on the Ophthalmology Patient Focus Group, as well as attending many Board and Governor meetings and overseeing the merger of the three hospitals.  All this experience and my first hand knowledge of  dealing with a loved one with long term illness  will hopefully put me in a position to better represent my community.

Ron Capes JP

Basildon - 2 year term

I am an ‘Essex Boy’ born in Epping and many-years resident of Basildon District.  I currently live in Billericay and am married with two children, both born in Basildon Hospital.

Most recently I was a ‘caretaker’ Lead Governor for the new MSE Trust, having been previously re-elected Lead Governor for Basildon Hospital by my colleagues on the Council of Governors.  I have no political affiliation. 

My professional background is in aerospace engineering and later in civil engineering as a senior manager with Essex County Council Highways Department.  I have also worked as a Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

I am a supplemental list Magistrate, a Member and past Chairman of my local branch of the Royal British Legion and have undertaken various voluntary work for the Essex Police Fire and Crime Commissioner.  I am a former member of the Independent Remuneration Panel of Basildon Council.

In my previous tenure as Lead Governor I have actively engaged with the hospital’s directors and managers in a positive working relationship and in recent times, with the support of the other Governors, been proactive in the merging of our three main hospitals to become one of the largest acute hospitals in the Country.   

As a governor of the MSE Trust I intend to continue to work hard to ensure that patients receive acute healthcare of the highest possible standard.

Eric Watts

Brentwood - 3 year term

Eric has lived in the area for 31 years.  He is married with one child.  Eric is now retired but keeps busy with voluntary work including work for cancer charities.  He has established the Brentwood cancer help group, Tea and Talk at Toby’s.  Eric was treated for a spinal tumor at the age of 12 which returned as a secondary tumor in his lungs when he was 14.  Following this, Eric took up a career in medicine. Eric has been active in cancer charities and support groups and was invited by Sir Michael Richards to be part of the Cancer Survivorship Agenda.

Eric has written about patient support groups and had an autobiographical piece published in Commentary, the Journal of the Royal College of physicians in February of this year.

Eric is particularly interested in helping patients to help themselves and I am keen to see the trust take on initiatives such as the Patient Activation Measures to gauge their progress in doing this.  In his spare time, Eric enjoys the outdoor life and has taken part in 20 marathons raining thousands of pounds mostly for cancer charities.

 

Bill Beeko

Brentwood - 2 year term

Andrew Porter

Braintree - 3 year term

Andrew has lived in and around Braintree all his life.

He is married with 2 children & 2 grandchildren.

Now retired. Andrew was a senior sales manager with the Kion group (LindeMh Uk).

In his spare time Andrew is a keen Scuba Dive and a long-term member of the local scuba club.

Neil Roberts

Braintree - 3 year term

Neil has lived in Essex since moving from Surrey in May 2018.  He is married with 3 children and 4 grandchildren.  Now retired, Neil was previously a senior manager with the Manchester College, working in Prison education.  Having been a patient at both Broomfield and Basildon hospitals, Neil is interested in all aspects of healthcare, particularly cardiology and the learning and development of staff.  In his free time, Neil enjoys reading, travelling, gardening and rugby.

 

Vacancy

Braintree

Rachel Clark

Castle Point - 2 year term

Rachel spent nearly 40 years working in the financial industry through all aspects of Corporate and Retail banking, and the last 25 years as a specialist in Marketing and Communications.  She is passionate about ensuring communication is key for the MSE Trust to the public, the members and the patients across the Mid and South Essex areas and has responsibility for the Castle Point constituency as a Public Governor.  

Rachel has been proud to be a Castle Point Public Governor since 2016 and has witnessed both the highs and lows of the original Southend University Hospital Trust up to the merger in 2020.  She is delighted to have been re-elected in 2020 and is keenly aware of the key role and trust that all MSE Trust Governors have in ensuring that their members and public are effectively represented.

Rachel was previously Chairperson for the Membership & Public Engagement Recruitment Group (for Southend Hospital) for the last 3 years which has resulted in all Governors attending many public events, e.g., voluntary support groups (CAVs/SAVs), Schools /Colleges Career Fayres as well as attending many local community groups. She was and is key in leading on improvements to the members newsletter ‘Governor2Members’ (previously known as The Future), by ensuring articles are informative and relevant.

COVID 19 has highlighted the precious and invaluable commodity that is the NHS in its entirety, and whilst like many, I have been both witness to the fantastic work of the MSE Trust workforce as a Public Governor and personally through family impact. 

As a Governor in the new Trust merger, Rachel is extremely keen to represent her constituents in the ‘new’ world which is ever evolving as COVID hopefully starts to recede and Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust emerges.

If you, your family, or friends are interested in becoming a member or read the latest Governor2Members magazine, please visit:   https://www.mse.nhs.uk/membership-and-governors

Tom Harrison

Castle Point - 3 year term

I am married to Rosemary, we have three grown up sons and two grandsons. We moved from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire to our Thundersley home following a promotion with my then company. During my working career, I have gained experience in operational and commercial management.

I completed my working career as a Civil Servant in the Foreign & Commonwealth Office as a Shift Commander. During my long working career, I have had the opportunity to obtain many professional qualifications and undertake relevant training courses. Following my retirement, I then took the opportunity to refocus my energy and enthusiasm by engaging as a local volunteer. My volunteering work ranges from being a School Governor to joining the Board of Trustees at Citizens Advice. When our Surgery advertised for patients to join a newly formed Patients Participation Group my wife and I joined. Currently, I am Vice Chair of our group.

My wife and I are members of Keep Our National Health Public. I am part of the Castle Point pressure group to save our libraries from closure due to budget cuts at Essex County Council. We have enjoyed initial success, ECC has deferred their original plans for the next few years. I am chair of the South Essex Branch of the Co-op Party.

I have been actively involved in public consultation relating to the NHS’s sustainability and transformation partnership. I have also taken an active part in saving Southend Hospital from having the A&E function downgraded. Being a member of the Council of Governors is predicated on being able to improve healthcare provision to all Castle Point residents. 

Prior to the Covid pandemic, my wife and I were involved in many activities with our family and friends. We are both members of our local gym. We are keen theatre and cinema goers. We are really missing our holiday breaks from the UK.

Brian Terry

Castle Point - 2 year term

Brian was born in Dundee, Scotland and moved to Wiltshire in 1974 before moving to Thundersley, Essex in 2006.  Brian is married with 3 daughters and four grandsons.  Brian is retired now but is involved in voluntary work as a trustee and is the ambassador for Havens Hospice

Brian spent 41 years working in the National Health Service, both in Scotland, then in the west of England.  He achieved a Master of Business Administration (distinction) at the University of the West of England in 1995.  For the last 10 years of his career, in the NHS, he held senior management posts within three NHS organisations in the West of England.  His main areas of responsibility being all forms of governance, risk management, emergency planning, corporate services and compliance with all NHS regulatory bodies. Brian retired in 2010 as Head of Integrated Governance for NHS Gloucestershire having held a similar post for Swindon Primary Care Trust.  Brian is interested in strategy, performance and management within healthcare.

Caroline Beasley-Murray

Chelmsford - 3 year term

Susan Sullivan

Chelmsford - 3 year term

Yazid Nasir

Chelmsford - 3 year term

Neil Pudney

Maldon - 3 year term

Julie Gooding

Rochford - 2 year term

Les Catley

Rochford - 2 year term

Les has been a Governor at Southend Hospital since it first became a Trust in 2006 (except for a compulsory two year break) and served for many of those years as Vice Chair and / or Lead Governor.  As a resident of the Rochford constituency for 50 years and having raised four children, I know how important it is to have an excellent local hospital.  As a Governors I will strive to ensure that the Trust provides a quality and timely service to the community.  I believe it is the responsibility of people in a community to work together to improve facilities and services for the benefit of all.  I believe that my thirteen years previous experience as a Governor at Southend hospital, ten years as a school governor (most of them as Chairman) coupled with financial and managerial skills gained working as a Finance Manager and Management Consultant with Ford Motor Company give me the experience to successfully undertake this role.

Sally Holland (Lead Governor)

Southend - 2 year term

Sally moved to Essex from Gants Hill 7 years ago.  She is happily married with two daughters and two grandchildren.  Before she retired, Sally worked as the Corporate Director at Southend Borough Council. Sally is a committee member of Chalkwell Residents Association and enjoys gardening, playing Bridge, reading, swimming and walking.  Sally is keen to ensure that the patient experience is the best that it can be.  Sally was recently elected by her colleagues as the Lead Governor for the Trust.

Tim Gocher (OBE)

Southend - 3 year term

Tim is CEO of an investment firm, managing international investments in healthcare, artificial intelligence and renewable energy. He sits on multiple boards in the UK, US and Asia. At the University of Nottingham in Malaysia, Tim is Hon. Prof. of Sustainable Business, an active lecturer, and researcher in anti-corruption. He has an MBA from London Business School, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nottingham, and a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the Institute of Directors.

In his voluntary work, Tim is a proud Patron of the MusicManProject, a Southend-based charity inspiring musicians with learning disabilities. He is also Chairman and founder of Dolma Foundation, a charity educating under-privileged children in Nepal. Tim is married with three children, and lives in Westcliff.

Lawrence Collin

Southend - 2 year term

I have lived in Southend all my life, and am married with two children and two grandchildren, who all live locally. 

After qualifying as a pharmacist in 1974 I undertook my pre-registration year at Southend Hospital Pharmacy Department then worked in community pharmacy before opening my own pharmacies in Great Wakering (1981) and East Tilbury (1991). I eventually sold my pharmacies and have continued to work locally in community pharmacy ever since. I was elected as a public governor for Southend Hospital Foundation Trust in 2013 and re-elected in 2016, serving as Lead Governor in my final year. My main interest area is in the interface of healthcare between primary and secondary care.

Stephen Sweeting

Thurrock - 3 year term

Tunde Ojetola

Thurrock - 3 year term

Meena Mitra

Thurrock - 3 year term

Solomon Alexis

Thurrock - 3 year term

Solomon is a Principal Lecturer in the area of Computer Science and Informatics at the University of East London.  He has lived in Essex for 16 years.  Solomon enjoys travelling, volunteering at local organisations, computing and listening to music.  He believes that ‘Whilst the NHS is making great strides with new clinical techniques, there are significant opportunities to deliver further improvement for patients across all sectors of the community especially the ever changing ethnicity landscape of Thurrock and Essex.  An active community voice is needed in the Trust in order for it to meet the increasing needs and concerns of the community which it serves.’

Mercedes de Dunewic

Rest of England - 2 year term

Fatemeh Leedham

Staff - Basildon & Thurrock Hospital Site - 3 year term

Jesudass Johnselvan

Staff - Southend Hospital Site - 2 year term

Jesudass has lived in the area for 17 years.  He is married with two children.  Jesudass is a Team Leader in the Main Theatres at Southend Hospital.  He carried out his nurse training in India and worked in the Maldives for three years before moving to the UK in 2004, to begin his nursing career as a supervised practice nurse.

Stephanie Carey

Staff - Southend Hospital Site - 2 year term
 

Clive Edwards

Staff - Broomfield Hospital Site - 3 year term
 

Mirriam Kwenda

Staff - Broomfield Hospital Site - 3 year term

Mirriam has worked for the Trust for 3 years as a Paediatric Nurse and is a married mother of three, with two grandchildren.

Georgette Polley

Thurrock Council - 2 year term

 

Jeff Henry

Essex County Council - 3 year term

Beth Hooper

Southend Borough Council - 2year term
 

Simon Johnson

Chelmsford Voluntary Services (CVS) - 3 year term
 

Anglia Ruskin University

Vacant
 

South Essex College

Vacant
 

Anthony McKeever

Clinical Commissioning group (CCG) - 3 year term