From 1950-59, I worked in hospital pathology laboratories, the pioneering days of the NHS, before going to University. As a satisfied in-patient I joined Charnwood Patient Public Interface Forum. I am interested in seeing how the NHS works, compared with earlier experiences. The particular projects I have been involved with are Carers and Dementia. I also represent the LINk on Leicestershire Older Persons’ Engagement Network (OPEN).

I have lived in North West Leicestershire for over 30 years. I am a member of the Ashby Hospital and the Coalville Hospital site group for the Community Hospitals Review. I was previously a member of the Patients and Public Health Forum for Leicestershire and Rutland and I was a member of the Hygiene and Inspection Group.

Through being a member of the LINk Board, I would like to help continue the delivery of services for the people of Leicestershire. I have a keen interest in continuous improvement and having people’s voices actually listened to. I believe feedback is an excellent way of understanding what services are delivering and I feel both health and social care services should be supported by people, like myself, acting as critical friends. I have an eye for detail, am a good listener and a desire to make a difference.

I have retired from the NHS where I was a Public Health Specialist. I also worked as Director of an MSc in Health Promotion. I have a particular interest in community engagement work and working with local authority and primary care services. I believe directly involving people is the most effective way to improve their health.

As a previous chair of the Patient & Public Involvement (PPI) Forum for Eastern Leicester, I have experience of working with NHS, Community groups, and Local Authority and Carers’ groups and know how to conduct meetings and work in team spirit in the best interest of patients. I am interested to work on the projects of ‘care closer to home’, early discharge, and rehabilitation service, patients’ choice and hospital waiting list, Children and Mental Health Services.

I have been actively involved in Patient & Public matters for several years and have represented the public at various committees of the NHS Trusts and at the Board meetings. I have continued to attend and report back to the LINk on the NHS Leicestershire County & Rutland Trust Board meetings. I am a member of the Loughborough Hospital site group and the Transport & Access Group for the Community Hospitals’ Review.

Since joining the LINk I have been an active member of both the Communications Group and the Project Group.

I am a retired self employed consultant specialising in ICT and change management. Having taken quite a lot out of the NHS over the years, I felt it was time to put something back so I became a member of the now disbanded Public and Patient Involvement Forum for Leicestershire. When the LINk was launched I was appointed Chairman of the Transitional Steering Group and, I hope successfully, steered the organisation along the path to the place it now occupies as a nationally recognised example of what a LINk should be. I am currently a member of the Board, Finance, Governance and Transition to HealthWatch Groups.

I was brought up and educated in Oakham and have lived in Leicestershire since 1968. I am now retired after working for the charity Age Concern England (Now Age UK) for over twelve years and before that for the BBC. Since retirement I have maintained a personal interest in issues about ageing and the care of older people. I am the Chair of the Communications Group.

I am a state registered Nurse with over 40 years experience in the NHS. I was a District Nursing sister for 20 years and have been involved with both young and old patients some with disabilities. I worked in the NHS when we also did social care which was later given to social services, and have had contacts with social carers when we worked alongside each other. I have also been a union representative for a number of years and have sat on the board and working group of Transforming Community Services.

As a young stroke victim, I am able to offer my own experiences in having a stroke at a young age and what the Adult Social Services may or may not have provided for me.

I am currently working with and for the elderly in Melton Mowbray and have done for several years. I was instrumental in changing a sheltered scheme into an Extra Care scheme whereby tenants could come back from hospital rather than going into residential care. Through the LINk I am involved in Adult Social Care incorporating the new Personalisation agenda which is the future.

I became a professional trainer in 1986 and started a very successful association with St John Ambulance. I rose through the ranks to become a full time Commercial Training Manager with the rank of Assistant Commissioner for St John Ambulance Leicestershire and Rutland. The nature of my work brought me into close contact with the NHS at all levels. I suffer from a type of Bipolar and physical disabilities so I am able to judge the NHS from a patients view. When I became ill I studied my illnesses and I now train professionals and the public on mental health issues. I am the Chair of the Leicestershire LINk Mental Health Task Group.

I have been an active member of Leicestershire LINk since April 2008, on the Transitional Steering Group, LINk Board, Project Group, Communications Group, and leading the Mental Health Group. I have been a Board Member of Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) for 10 years and Chair for 3 years. I have been an active campaigner on disability issues, a trained counsellor and mentor, and also a counsellor with Rape Crisis for 3 years.

I enjoy being involved in community projects and feel passionate about the way health and social care services are delivered to the people who need them most. Having worked within Leicestershire County Council and Lincolnshire County Council as a social worker and Team Manager for over 30 years I am able to provide and share the knowledge, skills and experience I have gained throughout my working life to the Board.

I am a retired Head of Nursing/ Senior manager for University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) responsible for Education and Practice Standards. I am interested in supporting improvements in Primary Care locally, especially in elderly care. I am currently the chair of GP Patient Participation Group and Committee member of the NHS Retirement Fellowship.