Committee
Dr Kirsty Protherough
I am the Chair of the CHA as well as a Director. I am a general practitioner who has spent the last seven years working as the GP covering Stroke, Palliative Care, and Elderly Care patients in Worcestershire's Community Hospitals (of which there are seven!). During this period, I became interested in frailty and earned a diploma in geriatric medicine (DGM). We brought GP Trainees to Community Hospitals in partnership with our local deanery, and I am hopeful that the local community hospitals would provide placements for the new medical students at the University of Worcester, where I am also an Associate Lecturer. I've also noticed a dearth of knowledge among patients and their families concerning all areas of ageing and frailty so have set up a patient educational service Healthacate in response to this.
I believe Community Hospitals are an important resource within the National Health Service for providing services particularly to those patients living with frailty and I am delighted to be the new Chair of the CHA. I hope we can continue to raise the profile of all community hospitals UK wide and continue to engage in strategic discussions with healthcare leaders regarding the importance of providing appropriate resources to these community assets that allow them to flourish and reach their full potential.
Helen Rowe
I am a Senior Ward Sister working in a South Somerset Community Hospital specialising in stroke rehabilitation. I am passionate about community hospitals and the values that the CHA works within and towards, particularly in sharing the role, function and potential of community hospitals with all. I have been privileged to have attended previous innovation and best practice conference as well as having been awarded an innovation and best practice award in both 2015 and 2019. I am studying for a diploma in operational and departmental management. I really feel that there is no better place to work than in a community hospital and I could not be more proud of my team, or enjoy my role more than I do!
Sue Greenwood MBE
Sue Greenwood is a Modern Matron and Clinical lead at Cornwall Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust. Sue has long been an active supporter of the CHA, and has contributed to our forum and discussions. Sue has been key to successfully establishing CATU (Community Assessment and Treatment Units) in community hospitals for frail elderly patients. For their CATU initiative Sue and her team attracted a commendation in CHA Innovations and Best Practice programme. Sue Greenwood is a Queen's Nurse and has received an MBE for her services
Sarah Washer
I am a Modern Matron across 2 community hospitals in Cornwall working for Cornwall Partnership Foundation Trust. I qualified in 2001 and couldn’t think of anything else I would rather be doing as a career. I am very passionate about community hospitals and providing care closer to home for our communities. I have worked in a variety of community hospital settings since 2006 after leaving the acute trust to enable me to work closer to home and raise my family. I have a background in elective orthopaedics, stroke rehabilitation, amputee care pathway, care of the elderly and end of life care. In 2014 as Ward Sister and in 2022 as Matron I supported my teams to achieve the Gold Standard Framework Accreditation in end of life care. One of my community hospitals has received the Innovation and Best Practice award for our meaningful activity coordinator role of which I am immensely proud of as its focus is on not only those patients living with dementia but all our patients needing reablement through activities. I am very honoured and excited to join the CHA and all it offers.
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Julia Fairhall
Julia is Assistant Director of Nursing at Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, and within her work portfolio works with both Community services and Community hospitals of which the trust has 11. Julia has been a strong supporter of the CHA. Julia has won a CHA award and was involved in 2 case studies in our Q CHA study on the role of community hospitals. She was recently involved in a networking event involving CHA, Q and Rye Hospital, and would like to develop further links. Julia is actively involved in our Q Special Interest Group discussions. Julia has a lot to offer the CHA as a committee member.
Jo Posnette
Jo is a registered nurse who was previously Matron of Didcot Community Hospital. Jo is a Trustee of Rye and Winchelsea District Memorial Hospital, and Chairs the Clinical Services committee. Jo specialised in community services and community hospitals as a management consultant. Jo now works as a medico-legal expert witness in catastrophic injury claims. Jo is a Community First Responder. She has volunteered locally as a vaccinator. Jo has been involved with the CHA over many years, attending conferences and supporting the work of the Association through membership of the CHA and our Q SIG. We are delighted she is joining as a committee member.
Kate Riddle
I have been a nurse working in a range of roles over my career within community services including, School Health Nurse, Senior Nurse Safeguarding Children and subsequently as Deputy Director of Nursing for Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. I returned to an Operational Leadership role in 2021 and until August 2023 I was the Head of Service for the Oxford Health’s Community Rehabilitation service. We have 8 inpatient wards on six sites across Oxfordshire. This includes a stroke unit, End of Life beds in partnership with a local hospice and dedicated beds for bariatric patients who require inpatient rehabilitation. Leading this service was a very positive experience particularly being closer to frontline staff and the patients in our care. I had a specific focus on improving patient centred care, quality improvement and staff development during this time. I found that the Community Hospital Association was a very supportive organisation, and I was very proud when our matrons won an innovation and best practice award in 2022. I am now providing coaching and supporting leadership development on a part-time basis. I’m delighted to be joining the Community Hospital Association committee and to learn more about the work of the association and other community hospitals.
Julie Ellery
What an honour to be invited to join the CHA committee.
I started nursing 35 years ago and I am a Matron working across three sites, Tewkesbury and North Cotswolds Hospital and the George Moore Community Centre and I’m employed by Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Trust. I have experience in Acute General medicine, Ophthalmology, district nursing, development of rehabilitation care pathways with acute and community trusts, project management and governance. I am passionate about patient led , multidisciplinary care and patients been able to access the right care in the right place.
In our Hospitals we have dedicated teams offering inpatient care, general medicine, rehabilitation, end of life and a CATU unit. We have MIIUs on site, an extensive out patients service, diagnostics and a busy theatre. I have experienced many years of support from the CHA and it is a pleasure to support the committee and all our community Hospitals. I am also a keen believer of animal therapy for patients and staff and have been known to have alpacas, penguins and reindeers to visit Hospital sites!
National Leads
Dr Alastair Noble MBE
I am the CHA National Lead for Scotland, and a co-opted Committee member of the CHA. I have had an extensive career combining my clinical work as a GP working in a community hospital with local health initiatives and with strategic work at a national level. I have been involved with community hospitals in Scotland for over 40 years, and was Chair and Committee member of Scottish Association of Community Hospitals (SACH). I am now Chair of SACH Alumni, and continue to support and promote community hospital services. I am an independent advisor to Health Boards in Scotland. I have received an MBE for my work on the integration of Health and Social Care in Nairnshire and also for conservation work in Nairnshire. I have been a Community Councillor in Nairnshire for 12 years with a special interest in community empowerment and locality planning/capacity.
Tom Brooks
I am the CHA National Lead for Wales, and a co-opted Committee member of the CHA National Lead for Wales. I am a retired management consultant who worked in the NHS across the UK as well as internationally in places such as Norway and Hong Kong. As an advocate for improving healthcare particularly in rural areas, I have served 6 years on a Community Health Council and 18 months as a Committee advisor to a Health Board in Wales. I have given evidence to several Parliamentary Select Committees. I am a committee member of the North Wales Healthcare Alliance, a consortium of community healthcare campaigning organisations in North Wales. I am a patient representative on the "NHS Rural Health & Care Wales steering committee", which commissions activities to improve patient healthcare outcomes in rural areas of Mid & West Wales. Contact
Dr Shauna Fannin
I am the CHA National Lead for Northern Ireland and am a co-opted Committee member of the CHA. I am a senior GP partner working in Ballymoney Co. Antrim. Since I became a GP in 1989 I have worked in our local Community Hospital, the Robinson Memorial Hospital, and I have been Clinical Lead in the Hospital for over 10 years. I am also a Macmillan GP Facilitator in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. I am passionate about the value of Community Hospitals to local communities and to our entire system of health care. I am a member of our hospital's charitable trust board who continue to invest heavily in the hospital and who harness the wholehearted engagement of the local community.
Associate Committee Members
Evelyn Prodger - Chair of the CHA
I am the outgoing Chair of the Community Hospitals Association (CHA) Committee, and I am now an Associate Committee member. I continue to have a focus on Quality Improvement and Innovation and Best Practice. I am also a Convenor for our Community Hospital Special Interest Group in the Q Community. Community Hospitals fulfil a vital role within the NHS but are often not represented in mainstream work. I am passionate about the added value Community Hospitals and staff working in them bring to local populations. I qualified as a nurse in 1991 and went on to complete a BSc (Hons) Professional Practice and a MSc Advanced Nurse Practitioner. My clinical background began in medicine, specifically elderly medicine, dermatology and haematology. As a senior nurse I have worked in elderly medicine, Community Hospitals, Responsive Services and as a Nurse Specialist for Older People supporting Care Homes. I was a General Manager in the NHS managing Community Hospitals and Urgent Care. In 2017 I was awarded my Queens Nurse Award. I am a member of Q and have a keen interest in quality improvement and people and practice development. I am currently the Clinical Services Director at St Michael's Hospice Hastings and Rother.
Jan Marriott
I am an Associate Committee member of the CHA, having been involved for many years, holding positions such as a Director, Chair and Vice-Chair and committee member. I am a registered nurse who is passionate about community hospitals. I was Matron for Evesham hospital, and responsible for the development for many innovative services there. I have also managed a number of community hospitals. I have held a variety of director posts in the NHS, voluntary and private sector. Following my retirement from the NHS seven years ago I continue to work harder than ever. I am currently Independent Co-Chair of the Gloucestershire Learning Disability and Physical Disability/Sensory Impairment Partnership Boards and Independent Chair of the Gloucestershire Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership Board. I am a Non-Executive Director with Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, which has seven community hospitals.
Chris Humphris
I am an Associate committee member of the CHA and was previously Chair of the CHA 2018-2022. I have experience across a wide range of NHS, Social Care, and other services both as a provider and as a commissioner. I have managed community hospitals and community services across the England including Northumberland, Cambridge, Norfolk and Warwickshire. I have also worked in the private sector managing an organisation providing care homes. In the past I held the position of CEO in two PCTs and a Community Health Trust and worked as an Associate Director of Adult Social Care. I have experience of strategic planning for community hospitals, and working with a wide range of stakeholders. I currently work as an independent management consultant, working with community groups on the future of their community hospitals. Chris provides free initial support as a member of the CHA. As an independent consultant he also regularly undertakes commissions.
Liz Fenton
I am an Associate Committee member of the CHA and a Registered Nurse. I have been involved with the CHA for 15 years. I am the Deputy Chief Nurse for Health Education England and have held a number of clinical and leadership roles including at board level. I am also a specialist advisor with the care quality commission and an accreditation surveyor for CHKS. I represent the CHA on CHKS. I have a masters degree in advancing healthcare practice. In 2017 I was awarded the title Queens Nurse. I was a Senior Ward Sister working in a South Somerset Community Hospital specialising in stroke rehabilitation. I am passionate about community hospitals and their role in the local health and care system.
Dr Emma Gibbard
I am an Associate Committee member of the CHA. I am Research Impact Manager at the University of Bath. I am member of Q, Health Foundation and lead the Special Interest Group on Evaluation. I have been a council member of the UK Evaluation Society.
Dr Andrew Wheeler
I am an Associate Committee member of the CHA. I am the Clinical Director of Community Hospitals in Gloucestershire. I supervise a mixed doctor/ANP model at a hospital in the Forest of Dean and also work as a sessional GP. I am interested in good governance, new ways of working, and ensuring people get the right care in the right place.
Eleanor Murphy
CHA Service Development Manager
Eleanor is our CHA Manager offering support to the CHA team. She has a wide range of experience with over 16 years’ working with people with disabilities in supported employment, as well as project development and quality checking roles. She ran Boss Employment CIC for 6 years promoting employment for people with learning disabilities - delivering interactive workshops to encourage and inspire people to see paid work as a valid option. An experienced TSI trained Job Coach, Eleanor is passionate about equality of opportunity and supporting people with disabilities to reach their potential by identifying steps to success. Eleanor has a BMus and is currently completing a Dip in Health and Social Care. She says that she is delighted to be involved with the Association and is enjoying working with the team. eleanor@communityhospitals.net