Welcome to our new Board members
We are delighted to announce Ruby Dillon and Marcus Parsons as new Non-Executive Directors of Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull. Both Ruby and Marcus have extensive experience in public health and the voluntary sector, including high level roles as Commissioner for Drugs, Alcohol and Smoking services and as an adviser to the Home Office on Child Sexual Exploitation respectively, making them valuable additions to the range of skills in our current board.
Speaking about her appointment, Ruby says ‘I’m pleased to have an opportunity to put my years of knowledge and experience from working in public health both in the NHS and Local Authorities in Birmingham and Solihull, into supporting the great work of Healthwatch. I’m committed to helping improve the access to health and care, working for local people, especially those in our most disadvantaged communities.’
Marcus shares Ruby’s passion for our mission to tackle health inequalities. ‘With the significant challenges facing the health and social care sector and society as a whole, high quality, diverse and compassionate health and social care provision is needed more than ever,’ he states. ‘Healthwatch, through ensuring the service user experience is listened to and acted upon plays a vital role in achieving this and I am committed to supporting the role Healthwatch has through my appointment to the board.’
Welcoming them to the board, Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull Chair Richard Burden says ‘Ruby and Marcus join at a time of growing challenges in local health and social care, which requires us to grow in strength as an organization. Throughout their careers, both have demonstrated the skills and most crucially the commitment necessary to guide Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull in our essential work improving services so that everyone can receive the best possible care.’
‘It is important that our board represents the diverse populations we serve,’ Richard continues. ‘We are therefore keen to hear from other local people of all backgrounds who would be interested in becoming Non-Executive Directors, and taking up the opportunity to use their own personal skills and experience to make a real difference to everyone in Birmingham and Solihull.’
If you share our commitment to ensuring that everyone can access timely and appropriate care in a health and social care system that treats them with respect, please email nedrecruitment@healthwatchbirmingham.co.uk for more details or call Diane Hickey on 0800 652 5278 to arrange an informal chat.