Healthwatch Bury welcomes New Chair and Chief Operations Officer
Marking a new milestone in the development of Healthwatch Bury, Ruth Passman has taken up the position of Chair. Ruth is passionate about putting patients and carers at the centre of decisions regarding their own health and care and ensuring that the patient and public voice helps to shape how healthcare services are designed and delivered. Ruth has held leadership positions in the voluntary sector and has over twenty years of senior executive experience in the Department of Health and the NHS. Recognised for her contribution to tackling health inequalities, she is a member by distinction of the Faculty of Public Health.
As Chair, Ruth will lead the board in providing strategic direction to Healthwatch Bury and channel the extensive experience of directors in driving future plans for the organisation.
My resolution for 2021 is to work with members, Directors and partner organisations to ensure that Healthwatch Bury is better known and understood and becomes a ‘go to’ organisation for all our communities.
"People have been responding to our surveys, many praising the skill and agility with which local NHS and care professionals have responded to the Pandemic. However one of the harsh realities that Covid-19 has shone a light upon up and down the country is health inequalities. More than ever, Healthwatch Bury has a vital role to play in ensuring that local healthcare meets the needs of everyone and that no one is struggling alone to access the high quality services that they need.”
Coming into the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO), we are excited to welcome Adam Webb to the team. Adam has been a part of the Healthwatch network for more than eight years, working for Healthwatch Trafford. In addition to his extensive knowledge of the health and social care landscape, he brings considerable experience in leading community based and voluntary sector projects, as well as in communications and information technology. Adam has also worked alongside Healthwatch Bury staff in creating collaborative reports and created the healthwatchbury.co.uk website in 2016.
As COO, Adam will be responsible for leading Healthwatch Bury in its mission to represent the voice of patients and service users in shaping and improving services, as well as signposting people to find the information they need.
I am really pleased to be joining the Healthwatch Bury team at this particularly significant time.
"I see the work of local Healthwatch in championing the needs of those that use services as critical to ensuring we get it right through the change and re-evaluation of how local health and care services are delivered amidst the background of the COVID-19 pandemic. The brilliant work that Healthwatch Bury have done up to now gives me an excellent platform to build upon alongside the team in continuing and expanding upon the efforts to promote the organisation and encouraging public participation in the future of their care.”
Former chair Barbara Barlow stood down at Healthwatch Bury AGM this month and was given wholehearted thanks from all for her extensive contribution over the years.
