Meet our Integrated Care Board members
Sir Neil McKay
Chair
About me
Sir Neil McKay has spent his career managing and leading in the NHS. His NHS career has included being CEO of University Hospitals in Sheffield and Leeds, CEO for two Strategic Health Authorities and time as the Chief Operating Officer for the NHS in England.
He has led some of the most complex change programmes nationally and locally and has a particular interest in helping Systems develop strategies for sustainable services.
He is a strong advocate of integrated out of hospital care and the development of Place and Neighbourhood based solutions as the means of delivering better health and care to populations.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I was brought up in a family where many of them worked in the NHS. I was inspired by their commitment. Working in healthcare seemed a fascinating potential career and so it has been. The opportunity to work with such a range of talented people with an unremitting focus on how to help and support people is exhilarating.
I consider myself to be extremely fortunate to have done things which have been so professionally and personally fulfilling and I’ve never regretted for one moment my decision many years ago to become part of the NHS!
What are your passions outside of work?
I have 2 adult sons and an adult stepdaughter and now have 6 grandchildren. I get great pleasure by spending time with them. I enjoy holidays and good food - but don’t do enough travelling or eating out as my wife would like! She thinks I still work too much!
I’m a CAMRA real ale supporter and the more authentic the beer and the pub, the happier I am!
I’m fascinated by history, so for example I’m determined to visit as many of Northumberland’s 70 + castles as I can in the next few months.
But many would say my main passion (and tribulation!) is as an ardent follower of Sunderland AFC. The sense of belonging and community it gives me is important.
Andy Begley
Local Authority Member and Chief Executive
Shropshire Council
About me
An accomplished leader within local government, Andy has enjoyed over 25 years of success, across both the public and private sector.
From strategic planning and policy setting, to operational delivery as both provider or commissioner, he understands the landscape of the public sector, the mechanics of local government, and the nuances of system-wide design and delivery.
By maintaining focus on outcomes and impacts, Andy understands how to leverage the capability and expertise of partners and stakeholders and realise the true potential of collaboration and cooperation.
With an informed focus on behavioural economics, and a track record of progressive organisational leadership and development, he continues to influence and shape system responses to the requirements of a post covid economy.
Andy contributes to national debate and provides challenge and thought leadership to contemporary issues both as a speaker, and through written articles in key publications and journals.
Vanessa Whatley
Chief Nursing Officer
About me
Louise Barnett
NHS Trust Member and Chief Executive
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
About me
Louise joined The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust as Chief Executive in 2020.
She came from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, where she held the role of Interim Chief Executive from October 2013 before being appointed to the substantive position in April 2014.
Prior to her time at Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, Louise held a number of NHS board positions, including Interim Chief Executive, and Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She also held the position of Non-Executive Director at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Stacey Keegan
Trust Member and Chief Executive
Robert Jones Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
About me
Stacey joined RJAH as Interim Director of Nursing in November 2019, before becoming substantive Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer in March 2020. From March - October 2020, Stacey was Interim Chief Executive, before returning to the Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer role. In August 2021, Stacey was appointed the Trust's Interim Chief Executive.
She arrived at RJAH from the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham, where she most recently held the position of Deputy Director of Nursing and Clinical Governance.
A trauma and orthopaedic nurse by background, she has held various leadership and management roles in a variety of NHS Trusts.
Stacey has an MSc in Senior Healthcare Leadership and the NHS Leadership Academy’s Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Award.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
My greatest inspiration was my mom, as a daughter of a nurse, I grew up watching her dedication and love of the profession. Whilst at college studying sciences, I took a part time job in a care home, this hands-on experience reinforced that I wanted a career in care.
What are your passions outside of work?
I reluctantly took up running about six years ago and have grown to love it! Every run is an achievement and great for both my physical and mental health. I enjoy long distance walks, reading and spending time with my partner and our dog!
Professor Trevor McMillan OBE
Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair
About me
A Biomedical Scientist by background, Trevor spent the early part of his career researching the biological basis of radiotherapy for cancer and the role of UV light in skin cancer. This was largely at the Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research and at Lancaster University. He has worked with clinicians for most of his career and has lectured on radiobiology in many hospitals and universities around the world.
Trevor became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University in January 2014, before being appointed as Vice-Chancellor in August 2015. His tenure in these roles has been marked by growth in student numbers, enhanced visibility and reputation, improved student experience and an increased role for the University in supporting communities across the region.
Trevor is chair of the Midlands Innovation Board; a board Member of the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership; and chairs Network Staffordshire - a group of public sector leaders.
He also has past NHS NED experience with the North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust (2008 - 2012), and with the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (2012 - 2013).
Trevor received an OBE for services to Higher Education in the Platinum Jubilee Honours list in 2022.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I have worked with clinicians for most of my career and the interface between science and the clinic has always intrigued me. The effects of environmental radiation has been an important part of my work and this is relevant to population effects and public health.
My previous NED roles highlighted the significant issues of variation in health and treatment outcomes across quite small geographical areas and these continue to be critical issues.
At Keele University we support disadvantaged members of society in a whole variety of ways and we get huge satisfaction from the transformational impact we can have on people’s lives.
What are your passions outside of work?
There doesn’t seem much time outside work. Mainly family and a rediscovery of golf after a few years give me a lot of pleasure.
Meredith Vivian OBE
Non-Executive Director
About me
After career success in publishing and the voluntary sector, Meredith joined the Department of Health as a policy maker.
Here he led a variety of national initiatives including tackling prescription fraud, tobacco education, mental health and the criminal justice system, and headed up an NHS-wide staff engagement programme. Meredith was responsible for a range of policies giving patients and the public a greater voice including the creation of PALS, Healthwatch, reform of the health and care complaints procedure, independent complaints advocacy, local authority health scrutiny and the duties to involve and consult patients and the public.
A stronger voice for people and communities has been the major theme of his work since the mid-1990s. During this time Meredith ran advocacy projects and became a non-executive director of two national voluntary sector bodies responsible for promoting and championing the rights of marginalised people.
Since 2017 Meredith has been able to bring much of his experience to the fore in the role of Lay Member of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group. He is also the Chair of the Strettons Mayfair Trust which provides wellbeing services in South Shropshire.
In 2006 Meredith was awarded an OBE for ‘Services to Patient and Public Involvement’.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
Being able to bring to bear my own experiences as, amongst other things, a blind person, and those of the people and communities with whom I have come into contact, has been a real privilege and opportunity. I have also benefited greatly from working with exceptional people across all sectors whose conviction to fight for what is right inspires me to play my part too. I live and work in a beautiful part of the world and have an ever-growing drive to do what I can to ensure all my fellow Salopians to have the best quality of life possible.
What are your passions outside of work?
I am a published novelist, keen drummer and lover of comedy – performer and audience-member. I never tire of the beauty my wife and I experience as we walk in the Shropshire Hills, and nor does my guide dog. Sport is my number one interest and, although my playing days might be over, for some inexplicable reason my talent and expertise seem to be growing exponentially.
Dr Niti Pall
Non-Executive Director
About me
Niti has been a practicing clinician for 30 years and was a GP Partner at Smethwick Medical Centre from 1992 until 2013. She has also held numerous appointments as a Director, Chair and Board Member over the last 20 years.
She is currently a Global Medical Director for KPMG (since January 2016), as well as being a Non-Executive Director of Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital (since August 2019).
Simon Whitehouse
Chief Executive
About me
Simon has worked in the NHS for 30 years in a variety of roles. He graduated as a physiotherapist from Keele University in 1995, having trained at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital (RJAH). He started out as a Physiotherapy Assistant and learnt a lot from that role before he trained and qualified as a physio.
Having worked clinically for several years, he went to work for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy in their employment relations team and worked nationally on the introduction of the NHS Agenda for Change Pay System, prior to moving into more senior management roles.
More recently, Simon was Chief Executive of two of the Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, before joining the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICS as its Director in June 2017.
Simon is passionate about clinical leadership and about ensuring that our focus is always on improving things for the people that we serve. He has a Master’s degree in leadership and change management from Manchester University.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
Somewhat stereotypically, this came from my own personal experiences and injuries. As a result of quite a bad footballing injury (fractured ankle), I spent a significant amount of time undergoing rehabilitation with a physiotherapist. I was genuinely interested in the work that they did with me and found myself asking lots of questions. My desire to work in the NHS grew from that point and I was fortunate to be able to have a career in an area that I was interested in and really enjoyed.
What are your passions outside of work?
You will find me out with my dog Aero every morning irrespective of the weather. I try and ensure that I have at least an hour out with him every day of the week and that helps my mental wellbeing as much as it helps with the physical exercise.
I have 2 grown up daughters that keep me busy and we still enjoy family meals out and family holidays.
When not walking Aero, I really enjoy a wide variety of sports (predominantly watching now rather than playing!). I am an avid Liverpool FC supporter and will go to as many games as possible with my eldest daughter. Linked to my interest in sport, I am also a Trustee for the Foundation at Port Vale Football Club. Throughout my career I have always looked to give something back and to volunteer my time to support a charity or a local community group.
David Sidaway
Local Authority Member and Chief Executive
Telford and Wrekin Council
About me
David has been the Chief Executive of Telford & Wrekin Council since the beginning of 2020. He is immensely proud to work in the borough where he grew up, as he also began his career here, originally working for Wrekin District Council.
As Director at Telford & Wrekin Council (between 2013-2015), David was the driving force behind the transformation of Telford town centre, through the £250 million private and public sector Southwater development.
Before taking the top role at Telford & Wrekin, David worked at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, where he held the equivalent City Director post. During this time, he helped to create one of the country’s fastest growing enterprise zones and the city centre Smithfield development, securing over 2,400 jobs in the area.
Since becoming Chief Executive of Telford & Wrekin Council, David has successfully steered the authority through unprecedented times, including severe flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic. People credit him as a leader “who takes a complicated situation and simplifies it”.
David is especially proud of the great work and dedication of all his staff, who he fully supports through an empowering, “can do” organisational culture, encouraging everyone to fulfil their potential. This has led to Telford Council winning multiple awards in the last two years, such as Council of the Year (2021, APSE Annual Service Awards), Co-operative Council of the Year (2021, Co-operative Councils Awards) and finalists in the Council of the Year (LGC Awards, 2022) and Authority of the Year (MJ Awards, 2022).
Patricia Davies
Trust Member and Chief Executive
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
About me
Patricia took up the post of Chief Executive for Shropshire Community Trust in April 2021. Originally from Wolverhampton, she trained as a nurse in South Wales after graduating from Cardiff University. She then returned to the Midlands to begin her career as a district nurse in Shropshire. Patricia has both an academic and HR background and is still a registered and a practicing clinician.
Prior to taking up the post as Chief Exec, Patricia worked in London and the Southeast for 23 years in senior Executive roles in the acute and community sector. In the 9 years preceding the move back to Shropshire, Patricia held the post of Accountable Officer for CCGs in North Kent and, most recently, in Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes, where she has led a system transformation programme and successfully brought together the three clinical commissioning groups.
Patricia is keen to look at how the Trust can build on the effective services that are already in place across its adult and children’s teams with a particular focus on how we can deliver more integrated services with communities and ICS partners. By doing so, continue the Trusts track record as a high performing and forward-thinking organisation.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I am a second generation nurse. My mother trained as one of the first cohorts of nursing students in 1948 at the beginning of the NHS and it was her inspirational approach and strong believer in the institution and values of the NHS, which inspired me. As a clinician it’s the inspiration and satisfaction you feel in terms of improving the lives of individuals (which is why I am still registered and still practice); and in terms of being a Chief Exec within health and more importantly within an ICS, it is about the impact and improvements that you can make to communities. So, initially my mum was my inspiration and now, daily, the community of fabulous folk who I work with and serve.
What are your passions outside of work?
Gardening and running. I have been a keen runner for many years. I’m not an indoors bunny and running is quite therapeutic and sociable. I have completed 26 marathons and 4 ultra-marathons, both UK and international. My favourite is Snowdon marathon followed closely by the 2 Oceans Ultra in South Africa. I love gardening and am a big Monty Donn fan. Since moving back to Shropshire last year, I am grappling with a new garden and enjoying the challenge!
Neil Carr OBE
Trust Member and Chief Executive
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
About me
Neil has worked in Staffordshire since 1996 and joined the Trust at its inception in 2001 successfully leading the Trust as its Chief Executive Officer since 2007. Neil originally trained as a nurse in the North East of England and principally worked as a practitioner in general hospitals working in liaison mental health. He has spent his career championing improvements in mental health and learning disability services and is committed to multi-disciplinary/multi agency working.
He has been responsible for developing and establishing a range of specialist services within mental health including eating disorders, perinatal mental health services as well as psychiatric intensive care. He enjoys a real passion for the establishment and development of strong research, innovation and development and has played a significant role in the development of mental health and primary care both within the Trust and Keele University. He is currently Chair of the Clinical Research Network West Midlands.
Over the past 2 years he has led as Senior Responsible Officer the roll out of the Covid vaccination programme in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. In 2005 he was awarded an OBE for his services to healthcare and nursing. In 2010 he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing for an exceptional contribution to leadership and is delighted to be the recipient of Honorary Doctorates from both the University of Staffordshire and Keele University.
What inspired you to work in health and social care
I have always placed a significant emphasis on public services and am passionate in further developing and refining the biological, psychological, social and spiritual models of care.
What are your passions outside of work?
At heart, I am a family man. I have six grandchildren and try to spend as much time as possible with them and my three sons, doing Dad and Grandad things! I am a keen supporter of Warwickshire Cricket and have been a long suffering Newcastle United FC supporter.
Gareth Robinson
Executive Director of Delivery and Transformation
About me
Gareth joined NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin as the culmination of almost 20 years working within and for the NHS.
He has balanced a career in senior operational roles covering acute, primary care and mental health services, and most recently as Chief Operating Officer at Cwm Taf Morgannwg - a Welsh Health Board with many parallels to NHS STW.
Alongside this, Gareth spent periods within the management consulting sector working exclusively for the NHS as part of the PwC Health Team. This mix of experience has been a real privilege and has allowed him to deliver interesting change within NHS organisations as well as learn from a breadth of health systems from the UK and beyond.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
Having been born and raised in Shropshire, and worked in many parts of the NHS, the opportunity to make a difference to the citizens of the community I live within is a rare privilege. In my career, I’ve had the chance to experience many different parts of the public and private sector, but making a difference to the community you are a part of is the best reason to get out of bed in the morning!
What are your passions outside of work?
With two boys (Alex, 13 and Sam, 10), my passions outside of work are largely driven by theirs! This means I enjoy a lot of time involved in sport (a mix of rugby, motorcycling, football, climbing and the odd run!)
Claire Skidmore
Chief Finance Officer
About me
Claire has worked in the NHS for over 25 years and is an experienced NHS Chief Finance Officer, holding executive positions in commissioning organisations for more than 10 years. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds an MBA from Warwick University.
Claire’s experience extends well beyond finance as she feels privileged to have been responsible for a wide range of functions in her time as an executive. In 2021 Claire also spent some time as Accountable Officer for Shropshire Telford and Wrekin CCG.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I joined the NHS straight after college and enjoy being able to use the skills and knowledge that I have gained over my career to support and drive service improvement. I am a keen advocate of the NHS and am proud to be part of a diverse and multidisciplinary team. I value the opportunity that my role brings to work with great people across health and social care.
What are your passions outside of work?
I enjoy a variety of pastimes outside of work from tap dancing and pilates to eating out and socialising with friends. I love to travel, both within the UK and abroad.
Roger Dunshea
Non-Executive Director
About me
Roger was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System in March 2022. Roger is a chartered public finance accountant and former member of the Senior Civil Service. He was director of finance and operations at Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water sector in England and Wales for over fifteen years. Previously he held clinical, operational management and executive director roles in the NHS.
In the last ten years Roger has developed his non-executive expertise in audit and risk assurance. This has included working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Medical Research Council, the Geological Society, the Welsh Government, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Defence Electronics and Components Agency and the NHS. In recent years he has taken on leadership and governance non executive responsibilities relating to health research, innovation, digital and artificial intelligence.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
In 1980 I joined the NHS in Glasgow as a student nurse because I wanted to help and care for people suffering ill health. Since then my career has evolved gaining experience in health services management, regulation and broader public service. This has given me the privilege of working alongside service users, partners and colleagues in local and central government, voluntary organisation and the NHS. My goal is always to improve and develop services that should be tailored to the needs of individuals, notably those who are vulnerable or are disadvantaged by inequality.
What are your passions outside of work?
I enjoy the outdoors, notably rambles around Shropshire with our three dogs and further afield in the mountains of the UK and some overseas. My first degree was in geology, so anything rocky is always fun with my new interest developing in planetary geosciences. For a number of years I have volunteered with Natural England at the SSSI bog at Fenns and Whixall moss, our goal is to recreate the bog to act as a massive carbon sink and protect rare plant and animal species. In 2021 we were very privileged to become Natural England's Volunteer Team of the Year.
Dr Ian Chan
About me
Dr Ian Chan is a highly experienced healthcare professional, who has worked across the UK and has been with Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS for more than two years.
Providing strategic oversight on specific ICS initiatives, he helps to ensure that the right projects are commissioned and implemented efficiently, to best serve the needs of patients in the local area.
Dr Chan’s role gives him the opportunity to help shape healthcare services in the area, steering developments that can really make a difference to patients.