The Equality and Involvement Committee (EIC)

Our Equality and Involvement Committee (EIC) is a formal committee of NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin (NHS STW), made up of members of the public and system partners, providing assurance to the Board in relation to our impact assessments and engagement plans.

The Committee is currently recruiting volunteer members. Please click on the links below to download the role description and expression of interest.

Role description
Expression of interest form

The primary role of the Committee is to provide assurance to the Board that its strategies, plans, service designs and developments have adequately and appropriately: 

considered and addressed the health and care needs and aspirations of residents in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin who do, or may, experience inequalities in access to health services and health outcomes  
involved people who do, or may, use the services under consideration.

The EIC is a sounding board for programme leads, providing advice and suggestions on how impact assessments and engagement plans can be developed and strengthened, and people and communities identified and reached.

In assessing how adequately and appropriately health equality and involvement has been considered and addressed, the EIC will pay particular attention to the relevant legislation including, but not limited to, the Equality Act 2010 and Sections 14Z1, 14Z2 and 14Tof the NHS Act 2006.

The Chair of the EIC provides a written response to programme leads with the Committee’s discussion, setting out any recommendations. The EIC reports into the Strategic Commissioning and Productivity Committee.

Meet the Committee members:

Integrated Care System members:

Meredith Vivian (Chair) Non-Executive Director for NHS STW

Paula Mawson Public Health Specialist, Shropshire Council

Helen Onions Public Health Specialist, Telford & Wrekin Council

Tracey Jones Head of Health Inequalities for NHS STW

Vanessa Barrett, Healthwatch Shropshire

Janet Suckling, Healthwatch Telford & Wrekin

Public members:

Ashia Miah, Telford

Previously held several positions across a wide variety of industries and charities
Founder and Chair of Shropshire and Telford United Women’s Association, Muslim Chaplain at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals Trust and Group Facilitator for Domestic Abuse at Victim Support
Interest in BAME, diversity, inequalities and community involvement

Beverley Ashton, Telford

Background in local government, not for profit and charity sectors, holding senior management and board positions
Expert by Experience
Interest in communications, equality, engagement and involvement

Duncan Spilsbury, Shropshire,

VCSE, public and private sector experience
Member of the Shropshire Infrastructure Partnership and Community Resource
Interest in community involvement, preventative health and diversity

Jackie Jones, Shropshire

Background in Financial Services and customer facing services
Active public member within a number of forums, and groups
Interest in dementia, health inequalities and community involvement

Rosemary Hooper, Shropshire

Background working with parents, carers, young people, and SEN
Previously head of Shropshire Virtual School for Care Experienced learners
Interest in physical and mental health, fairness and inclusion

Alex Graham, Telford

Background in supporting people in recovery from problematic substance use and poor mental health
Actively working within the voluntary and community services sector
Interest in mental health and inclusion

Margaret Bertie, Telford

Background in the care sector and working with people with learning disabilities
Actively engaged in several local committees and an active member of an organisation with a focus on tackling poverty
Interest in diversity, inclusion and equality

Work considered by the EIC in 2024/25 include:

Diabetes Transformation Programme – April 2025
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service – April 2025
The EDS2 Domain 1 self-assessment – March 2025
Diabetes Transformation Programme – February 2025
Community Pharmacy Antiviral Service – February 2025
Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service – January 2025
Cancer – December 2024
The GP Out Of Hours Service Procurement Programme – November 2024
The GP Out Of Hours Service Procurement Programme – October 2024
Teledermatology – October 2024
The GP Out Of Hours Service Procurement Programme – September 2024
Targeted Lung Health Check Programme – July 2024
The Hospitals Transformation Programme – April 2024