NHS Networks Board

The NHS Networks Board consists of the following people:

Click on a name for a brief biography of each Board Member.

NHS Networks Terms of Reference (Word, 36KB)

Minutes of Board meetings

Biographies of Board members

     Eileen Fairhurst, Chair of Salford PCT (Chair)
A sociologist by background, Eileen studied at the Universities of Manchester, Carleton in Ottowa and Leeds. She currently works at Manchester Metropolitan University. Eileen has spent all her academic life teaching, researching and supervising dissertations in the areas of sociology of health and illness and sociology of ageing. Eileen established Salford Teaching PCT in April 2001, the fourth NHS trust she has chaired (after North Manchester Health Authority, Stockport FHSA and Mental Health Services of Salford). In all of these appointments, she has been heavily involved in partnership working with voluntary organisations and local authorities.

  
Leo Boland, Chief Executive of Barnet Council
Leo Boland has been Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barnet since January 2001, where he has concentrated on improving service performance, strengthening the financial standing of the Council, investing in the business infrastructure and constructing a framework and vision for the future of Barnet as a successful suburb. Prior to Barnet, he was Assistant Chief Executive at Newham and, for five months, was seconded to work as Deputy Managing Director at the London Borough of Hackney, as part of the government team to turn round the management of the authority. He was part of the team that helped make Newham 'Council of the Year' in 1999 by transforming service delivery and changing public perception of the council. He is Honorary Secretary of the Chief Executives' London Committee (CELC) for 2005, a member of the Steering Group of the Local Government Leadership Centre and a Non-Executive Director of the Government Office for London.

 

  

Dr David Colin-Thomé, National Clinical Director of Primary Care
David was appointed as National Clinical Director for Primary Care in May 2001. He is also a part-time GP and honorary visiting professor of the Manchester Centre for Healthcare Management at Manchester University. Prior to being appointed as National Clinical Director, he was Director of Primary Care at the Department of Health's London Regional Office, and Senior Medical Officer at the Scottish Office NHS Management Executive. He was also formerly a member of Halton Health Authority, Cheshire Family Health Services Authority and a local councillor. He was awarded the OBE in 1997. David was educated at Hutton Grammar School in Preston, and the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne Medical School.

      David Dalton, Chief Executive of Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust
David started his career in hospital management in 1979. He joined Salford Royal Hospitals NHS Trust in July 2001 having been Chief Executive at The Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery NHS Trust in Liverpool for the previous seven years. David is actively involved in service redesign and transformation which he is pursuing in partnership with primary care and social services through a managed programme of change projects. David has a Masters Degree in Health Management and two particular interests of his are introducing and managing change and supporting the development of staff. Before coming to Salford, David worked at Barts in London, Queen Mary's in Kent, the Radcliffe Infirmary in Oxford and St Thomas's in London.

  

 Margaret Demian, Head of Knowledge Management, NHS Institute
Biography coming soon.

   Mike Farrar, Chief Executive of NHS North West
An experienced NHS Manager and Senior Civil Servant, Mike has previously served as Chief Executive of West Yorkshire SHA, South Yorkshire SHA and Tees Health Authority and Head of Primary Care at the Department of Health. During his time at the DH, Mike was responsible for establishing Primary Care Groups, Primary Care Trusts and PMS. He chaired the NHS Confederation GP Contract Negotiating Team that successfully negotiated the new General Medical Service contract. Mike currently chairs the Strategic Health Authority Chief Executives' Group and was the National Programme Director of NHS Live. Prior to working in the NHS, Mike worked for Grand Metropolitan UK Ltd and pursued early aspirations to play professional football and cricket.

    Barbara Hakin, Chief Executive of NHS East Midlands
Barbara was a GP in Bradford for 20 years and, having been Chair of the PCG, was appointed Chief Executive of Bradford South and West PCT in October 2000. Shortly after Shifting the Balance of Power, Barbara was asked to set up and lead a national development programme for PCTs (NatPaCT) and was Director of Primary Care in the Modernisation Agency. She was also a member of the Modernisation Board. Barbara is now Chief Executive of NHS East Midlands and also acts as PCT Adviser to the Department of Health. Barbara is currently leading negotiations on the new GMS contract.

   Kate Priestley, Chair of the Local Government Leadership Centre
As well as chairing the Local Government Leadership Centre, Kate is Chair of the Standing Committee on Structural Safety, Chair of the Island Health Care Charitable Trust and Vice Chairman of Scarborough Building Society. She is a Non-Executive Director of the National Property Board for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, a Trustee and Director of the Foundation for Built Environment, a council member of Newcastle University and a Member of the Sector Skills Council-Government. Through her business NX2 she undertakes periodic consultancy assignments.

        Professor Michael Richards, National Cancer Director
Professor Richards was appointed National Cancer Director in October 1999. In 2000 he led the development of the NHS Cancer Plan and since then has been responsible for overseeing its implementation. Prior to his appointment to the Department of Health, Prof Richards was a Consultant Medical Oncologist at Guy's Hospital specialising in breast cancer and Sainsbury Professor of Palliative Medicine at St Thomas's Hospital. He was also Clinical Director of Cancer Services at Guy's and St Thomas's from 1993 to 1999. In 2001 he was appointed CBE. In 2003 he was awarded the Hambro Macmillan Fellowship for his contribution to cancer services.