NAPC Council
Ashok ‘Ash’ Soni OBE, NAPC President
Ash was appointed NAPC President in September 2022. He began his pharmacy career in the heart of the community in London when he opened the first of three pharmacies in 1986. He then went on to share his expertise in a number of senior regional and national roles. He was Vice President of International Pharmaceutical Federation until 2022 and holds non-executive director roles at Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust and NHS Sussex. He was appointed Visiting Professor at Huddersfield University in July 2016. He is the Past President at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and Honorary Fellow of The UCL School of Pharmacy. He was a board member of Health Education South London from 2013-2015. Ash has held several roles at NAPC for nearly a decade, including pharmacy lead, Council member and member of the Executive Committee.
Dr Johnny Marshall OBE, NAPC Council Member
Johnny is highly experienced in supporting change within the NHS, particularly through enabling local professional teams to develop their own solutions. He retired from clinical general practice in 2021 but remains passionate about incorporating a population health improvement approach to create sustainable support for individuals and communities.
During his career, Johnny has built a reputation as a trusted leader and advisor, providing valued vision and insight on health & care policy on behalf of NHS membership organisations. He has established effective partnerships at board level between NHS membership organisations and key partners including national NHS bodies, local government and professional representative groups.
Johnny is currently a member of NAPC’s senior leadership team and NAPC Clinical Lead to the CARE programme. His previous roles include NAPC Chair and Director of Policy at NHS Confederation.
Caroline Taylor, NAPC Chair
Caroline was appointed as Chair of NAPC in September 2021. She is a GP practicing in Calderdale and the GP representative on the Calderdale Cares ICB as well as Calderdale GP clinical lead for mental health/LD/Autism and children/young people. Caroline believes firmly in the neighbourhood care model, described originally by NAPC, and works with NAPC on related programme delivery in particular population health Improvement and the place programme. She is passionate about the need to improve wellbeing of those working in health and care and is Senior Responsible Officer for CalderdaleCares4Us programme delivering innovative wellbeing support to all public sector workers, volunteers and carers who live or work in Calderdale through their local Mental Health charity Healthy Minds. Caroline is leading the development of an innovative holistic mental health and wellbeing decision tree by West Yorkshire ICP for use by all health and care professionals and volunteers to facilitate a more equitable offer for people and reduce workload pressures. She is working on the innovative Calderdale Community Mental Health Transformation and, through NAPC, with other projects nationally which are also founded on the Community Health and Wellbeing Worker model.
John Pope CBE, NAPC Chief Executive Officer
John has nearly 40 years’ experience in healthcare – his roles have included Finance Director and a decade as an acute trust CEO. He has worked at national level for the Department of Health reviewing whole health communities and undertook the role of Chief Operating Officer for the London Deanery during a period of major change in doctor and dentist training. John joined the NAPC in 2015 supporting the development of the primary care home programme and has been Chief Executive Officer since 2016. He is inspired by local frontline energy and a desire to improve local health and care services.
Dr Nav Chana MBE, NAPC Clinical Director
Dr Nav Chana served as NAPC Chair for four years and has been integral to the development and roll out of more than 200 primary care home (PCH) sites across England. Nav has been a GP at the Cricket Green Medical Practice in South West London for over 26 years. Previously he was Clinical Adviser for Workforce Redesign for the new care models programme, Director of Education Quality for Health Education South London and Postgraduate Dean for General Practice and Community-Based Education. Nav featured in Pulse’s Power 50 list of the most influential GPs in 2018.
Dr Durairaj Jawahar, NAPC Council Member
Dr Durai Raj Jawahar is a long serving member of the NAPC, now awarded life member ship, served as GP for more than 35 years years now retired. He was an Executive Partner of Manor Park Medical Practice in Leicester, serving 15,800 patients. He was the chair/ CD of the Millennium Federation / Millennium PCN (of Nine Leicester practices which form part of the primary care home programme’s community of practice.) Dr Jawahar is passionate about implementing innovative care models and was instrumental in securing funding for four highly successful walk-in health hubs, enabling Leicester patients to access appointments during the evenings, at weekends and on bank holidays. Set hub hot hubs in Leicester west. Thus minimised the spread of Covid-19. Stimulated practices to adapt care based on Population health. Very passionate with fully integrated services adapting AI enhanced outcome-based health care provisions.
Sally Kitt, NAPC Chief Operating Officer
Sally joined the NAPC in 2001 from a multinational IT organisation, looking for a complete change in industry. Her background is administration management and support. Sally’s role as Chief Operating Officer is to ensure the day-to-day running of the organisation supporting and working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Chair and President. She finds it hugely rewarding to work at the heart of an innovative organisation which is shaping the future of healthcare, influencing policy and connecting professionals across primary care.
Dr Peter Aitken, Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital; Medical Director at Devon Partnership NHS Trust
Dr Peter Aitken, MB ChB MRCGP FRCPSYCH DCH DRCOG FHEA worked briefly as a GP in South West London before pursuing a career in Psychiatry. He is Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist, Royal Devon, and Exeter Hospital. Previously served as the Medical Director at Devon Partnership NHS Trust and Honorary Associate Professor University of Exeter Medical School. He is trustee at the Lions Barber Collective, chair of the Medical Committee at the RNLl, mental health adviser to the National Association of Primary Care and member of the steering group for Zero Suicide Alliance. He is a past chair of the Faculty of Liaison Psychiatry at the Royal College of Psychiatrists and Psychiatrist of the Year in 2016.
Dr Peter Patel, NAPC Council Member
Dr Peter Patel is a scientist with 22 years’ experience in biomedical and health care sector, and significant management and leadership experience in academia and industry. Peter joined general practice in 2003 and in 2017 stepped down from holding a full-time contract to lead on international work in disaster medicine and improving primary care for developing countries with a focus on commonwealth countries. While working in primary care, Peter founded and led South Birmingham Independent Commissioning Group as their Chair. Peter was also CEO and Founder of the first phase of Pathfinder CCG group and supported other PBC groups such as Walsall and Nuneaton in the region, enabling transformation in primary care.
Professor David Colin-Thomé OBE, Independent Healthcare Consultant
David originated the primary care home concept, having spent 36 years spent as a GP at Castlefields Health Centre in Runcorn, and over nine as National Clinical Director for Primary Care at the Department of Health. He was also Medical Adviser to the Department of Health’s Commissioning and System Management Directorate. David was an Honorary Visiting Professor at Manchester and Durham University, as well as currently holding the positions of Chair of Primary Care Commissioning Community Interest Company (PCC) and Chair of PharmaScan for DH. He was awarded the OBE in 1997.
Professor Joe Harrison, Chief Executive and Trust Director, Milton Keynes University Hospital
Professor Joe Harrison has been an NHS acute hospital chief executive for over ten years. He joined Milton Keynes University Hospital in 2013, transforming its record in quality, performance, and finances. Under his leadership the trust has gained teaching hospital status and pioneered digital advances that have revolutionised patient care and experience. Joe has championed innovation and expansion, overseeing significant development across the hospital estate, including the building of an academic centre in partnership with the University of Buckingham and a new cancer centre, along with multiple other developments to improve access and keep up with patient demand in one of the fastest growing places in the country. Along with an ambitious digital innovation programme, Joe has promoted investment in workplace wellbeing to improve the working lives of the team at MKUH. He is a board member of the Oxford Academic Health Science Network, chair of the Clinical Research Network Partnership Board for Thames Valley, vice-chair of the University of Buckingham Council and Trustee for the NHS Confederation, chairing the NHS Confederation Employers Policy Board.
Kay Keane, Practice Business Manager, Alvanley Family Practice
Kay has spent her career in Primary Care, initially working as a Medical Receptionist this opened up her love for general practice. Working across all aspects of Primary Care, Kay ended up at NHSE with a national role, from which she was offered redundancy in 2015. She saw this as an opportunity to go back and re-engage with a patient facing role as a Practice Manager. During this return she realised that the family practice she loved had somewhat disappeared, she wanted to focus on patient engagement, improving patient health and well-being whilst maintaining a first-class medical service. This work is now described as collaborative practice, and Kay is cited as being a leader in this area. Focusing on what matters to the people and the population, utilising local skills, knowledge, and facilities to create a truly holistic service means that the practice is thriving under her leadership. Kay was awarded PM of the year in 2015 by the NAPC, speaks regularly about the role of Practice Management at national events, and is an expert in patient engagement and development. She is often interviewed, her skills and view given in national publications and shared as a truly unique leader of people, functions, and communities. A new type of Practice Manager for a new way of working. Outside of her Practice Management role Kay is an independent trainer, covering all aspects of the administration of General Practice, particularly focused on the Five Year Forward View, development of PPG’s, empowering teams, change management and organisational development. Developing other practices, localities, and communities to be the best that they can be, in their unique practice personalities brings Kay joy. Living in and loving Manchester, Kay has an allotment with some hens and grows flowers for the vase, she also spends her spare time travelling in her camper van to find a quiet spot to rest, or a music festival to dance at as the sun goes down.
Larry Koyama, Clinical Lead and Head of FCP Implementation
Larry is a Physiotherapist specialising in Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and has worked as an Advanced Practice Physiotherapist and clinical lead. He has a range of leadership and improvement skills and experience. He recently completed a Darzi Fellowship. He is currently working as Head of FCP Implementation at the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Larry is passionate about population health and the role of the multi-disciplinary team in primary care.
Dr Joe McGilligan GP and Local Government Association health and wellbeing champion
Joe qualified in Birmingham in 1990 and has wide medical experience including time as a flying doctor in Australia. He is Senior partner at Greystone House Medical Practice in Redhill, Surrey, and has a special interest in Minor Surgery and Vasectomy. He is an experienced Trainer of GP’s and medical students and an LMC member for Surrey. As an advocate of an integrated approach to healthcare, Joe brought together the eighteen East Surrey practices to form ESyDoc LLP for practice-based commissioning. Joe is a Council member of the National Association of Primary Care (NAPC) and a founding member of the National Primary Care Network (NPCN). Joe is former Chairman of East Surrey Clinical Commissioning Group. He is Governing Board Member at Surrey Heartlands CCG. He is motivated by a strong desire to improve the care of local residents and to realise his long-held vision for high quality patient services which deliver the right health care, at the right time, by the right healthcare professional and in the right environment. In the process, Joe aspires to bring back pride in the medical profession and the NHS.
Caroline Rollings, Faculty Member and Former Managing Partner
Caroline has worked in primary care for 30 years. As a specialist primary care nurse and psychodynamic counsellor, she developed a successful stress management course reducing GP attendance and prescribing. She spent seven years as Lead Nurse for Newport Pagnell Medical Centre’s Integrated Nursing team and following an MBA, 11 years as managing partner developing an innovative practice encompassing GMS/Provider services and a second wave PCH. The practice has been rated as CQC outstanding. Now an NAPC Faculty Member, she is passionate about holistic patient care believing that valuing https://napc.co.uk/wp-admin/post.php?post=4654&action=edit#and supporting colleagues, leadership, and population health provision all play a part in achieving those aims. Caroline is the NAPC Wellbeing lead and has been representing the us on the National Wellbeing Echo group for NHSE/I since the pandemic started, alongside developing, and providing support to Primary Care for the NAPC.
Dr Pooja Sikka, GP and NAPC Digital Lead
Pooja has had an accomplished 15-year portfolio career in healthcare. She is a practising General Practitioner in London and has previously taken roles in general practice turnaround, NHS commissioning and as a clinical advisor, alongside setting up a patient-facing healthcare business which was acquired 6 years later. Over the last five years Pooja has worked as a management consultant in EY’s healthcare practice, working with a breadth of clients across the NHS system, from hospitals and GP surgeries to national bodies and regulators. She developed some of the national guidance on delivering population health systems, being rolled out across the NHS today, whilst on secondment to NHS England. Looking for a more entrepreneurial experience, Pooja helped set up the EY Ventures practice. She looked after a portfolio of health and social care ventures and developed corporate alliances. Through this she helped to coach founding teams, support disruptive business models and herself worked in a joint venture start up launching a workforce matching App in secondary care for nurses and doctors, taking on an array of scale-up activities. Pooja is also a Director of a family business launching primary care and wider health services in India. She advises on clinical and digital services strategy. A decade ago, Pooja fostered her interest in health tech, knowing that over time it would become the bedrock of how patients all over the world would access and experience care. She has an MBA from Imperial Business School London specialising in digital health, gaining a research interest in the adoption challenges of health technologies in the UK. She is known for her energy, optimism, and self-starting nature and throughout her career has struck the balance between clinical expertise, commercial acumen, and business creativity. Pooja leads NAPC’s Digital Programme.
Dr Peter Smith, NAPC
Dr Peter Smith’s background is in general practice having been a GP for over 30 years in Kingston upon Thames until retiring from full time practice in 2019. He is President of the Self Care Forum and in this position jointly founded the Self Care Academic Research Unit at Imperial College where he is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow. He has had a career long interest in evidence-based medicine and continues to work in the field of health inequalities, Dr Smith was NAPC Chair from April 2000 to September 2004 and was appointed president in September 2005. He received an OBE for services to medicine in 2004.
Matthew Walker, Director of Strategy, NAPC
Prior to joining NAPC Matthew worked for 13 years as a management consultant focused on workforce strategy and planning, primary care estates strategy and investment, and the development of new models of integrated care and quality improvement. During this time he led a multi-year STP wide programme of work supporting investment into primary and community care estates and was deputy director of primary care transformation for one of the most populated STPs in England. Matthew has been involved in the NAPC’s primary care home programme since 2015 supporting its set up, spread and evaluation. He now leads NAPC ‘s strategy and business development operations, and oversees the work of NAPC Digital which supports practical digital innovation in primary and integrated care.
Joanne Haws, Clinical Director, South Norfolk Healthcare
Joanne Haws is a registered nurse who held a variety of roles within the UK NHS before setting up in business as an independent consultant in 2010. Joanne is the Clinical Director of Learn With Nurses, a Community Interest Company providing online clinical education that is accessible to healthcare professionals globally. She is a member of the Nurses and Allied Health Professionals Working Party of The British and Irish Hypertension Society and has authored many publications in the nursing and cardiology press both in the UK and internationally. Joanne is a Non-Executive Director of the National Association of Primary Care and is a Senior Clinical Consultant on the National Clinically led Workforce and Activity Redesign (CLEAR) Programme, sponsored by NHSEI. To keep up her acute skills Joanne still regularly works shifts in Critical Care, where she returned to frontline practice during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sarah Rhodes, Practice & Business Manager, Yorkshire & Humber
Sarah is the co-organiser and chair of the City Practice Managers meetings and is passionate about the Practice Managers role and primary care as a whole. Sarah has over 22 years’ experience in Primary care, with 17 of those as a Practice and Business Manager. She has led her practice and team through many ups and downs including an inadequate CQC inspection which was turned around to a ‘Good’ in just 6 months. Sarah’s practice has just been accredited as Gold Investors in people. She has sat on previous groups within her local area and attended all meetings when necessary. Sarah is a regional representative for the new Practice Manager body – IGPM – Institute of General Practice managers. She is also an elected board member for Bradford Care Alliance. In conjunction with her practice and her knowledge of commissioning, Sarah has knowledge of service development, CQC, Contracting, AQP’s, Business Development, Strategic Management, and local demographic demands. Sarah keeps herself updated with numerous journals and reading is her priority to ensure she is fully aware of upcoming changes and transitions. She has recently graduated from Bradford University with a MSc in Health and Social Care Management.
Nia Boughton, Consultant Nurse - Primary Care, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
Nia has always said that Primary Care is in her blood! The Daughter of a Practice Nurse, Nia has over 25 years nursing experience, twelve of which have been at Advanced Practice Level. Holding a postgraduate Specialist Practitioner Award in General Practice together with a full Advanced Clinical Practice Masters, Nia was thrilled to receive the Queens Nursing Title last year.
Nia is passionate about the provision of high quality, safe and effective nursing care and in 2021 was fortunate enough to win the RCN Wales Nurse of Year Award for her work in developing a Multi-Professional Advanced Practice Competency Framework for Primary Care, which HEIW now plan to roll out nationally. Her current PhD studies are based on the further development and measurement of this. Nia secured the first Welsh Primary Care Consultant Nurse position in 2018 where she represents the Health Board on the Strategic Programme for Primary Care, the National Advisory Group for Advanced Clinical Practice and is Chair of the National ACP Ratification subgroup. She sits as a council member on the National Association of Primary Care and holds an honorary senior lectureship with Bangor University.
Dr Emma Woodcock, GP, West Sussex
Dr Emma Woodcock is a part time GP and managing clinical lead for a practice in Horsham, West Sussex, a Clinical Lead for the Social Prescribers and Health and Wellbeing Coach ARRS roles for Horsham Central PCN and a Clinical Director in Education and Workforce Development for Innovations in Primary Care, a GP Federation in West Sussex. She teaches and mentors clinical pharmacists and the personalised care roles. Dr Woodcock is also the Personalised Care ARRS roles PCN Adviser for NHSE SE region.
Dr Woodcock was the managing and senior partner of a rural practice in West Sussex for many years and was a GP trainer for a decade. She was also the Clinical Director for Rural North Chichester Primary Care Network for 3 years. She has worked with Chichester District Council and other community partners to help set up the Chichester Locality Social Prescribing Service in 2018 and more recently is supporting the development of Horsham District Befriends addressing social isolation and loneliness in the locality. She is a member of the Sussex ICS Social Prescribing Strategy group. She is also the Health partner for the South Downs National Park Association. She is keen to help strengthen relationships between heath and the community sector to benefit the local population in order to address inequity and maximise resources.
Jon Twelves, CEO, Sunderland GP Alliance
Jon is the Chief Executive of SGPA, a federation of 38 GP practices, and has been since its inception in 2015, during which time he has helped grow the organisation such that it is now a significant local employer with over 250 staff, and a key supporter of the local health economy, its member practices, and Primary Care Networks. Jon is a member of NHS Confederation’s Primary Care Network Advisory Group, and Chair of the Northeast and North Cumbria GP Federation Collaborative. Jon is also a chartered accountant by background and, formerly, a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing, reflecting several years working in social housing.
Jas Bagary, Business Manager/Partner, Wolverhampton
Jas is experienced in General Nursing, Health Sector Management in the NHS and Private Healthcare Sector and Academia. Jas’ role as a Business Manager/Partner in General practice since 2005 is all about the ways of improving and delivering high standards of patient care in primary care. Jas recently completed a coaching and mentoring programme which has been helpful in supporting other managers and colleagues. Since 2001, Jas lectures in Leadership and management for Healthcare Professionals, with the main areas being based on the clinical leadership framework. Jas is a part of the Practice Managers Network for Black Country & West Birmingham. With challenging times and changes in healthcare, Jas has established good working relationships with other professionals, organisations, stakeholders. Jas really enjoys being involved and listening to what needs to happen, and how everyone can work together to make a positive change in primary care.
Dr Edward Bosonnet, GP, Medefer & NAPC Faculty, Digital Programme
Ed joined Medefer in 2016 bringing his passion for innovation to the team. Ed qualified as a GP in 2002. With experience in leadership roles in the NHS and as a Member of a Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) governing body, Ed developed an interest in the potential for innovation in IT to drive both strategy and healthcare delivery. He represented the CCG as its Clinical Quality Lead for the Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and developed an interest in IT service development and strategy, becoming the CCG’s Clinical IT Lead. At Medefer, Ed continues to develop innovative virtual healthcare strategies. He engages with CCGs and primary care to identify opportunities to support and extend the reach of Medefer’s unique virtual solutions within the NHS. Ed joined the NAPC Faculty in early 2021 to support the Digital Programme.
Dr Tayo Kufeji, GP partner in Milton Keynes, GP lead and clinical director for The Bridge Primary Care Network
Tayo is a GP partner in Milton Keynes, GP lead and clinical director for The Bridge Primary Care Network (PCN), which incorporates Newport Pagnell Medical Centre, Kingfisher Surgery and Brooklands Health Centre. He is a Primary Medical Services board member of the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB. He also sits on the Milton Keynes Place board as a PCN representative.
Dr Emily Eaton, GP, Westongrove, Bucks
Dr Eaton’s passion for her role as a GP is rooted in her drive to establish a proactive way of working within general practice. Being at the beginning of her career in general practice she would value the opportunity in being involved in helping to shape the work of NAPC. At Westongrove, Emma has recently been passionate to pursue her interest in health promotion.
Anna Shears, Faculty Member, NAPC
Anna Shears has a wealth of health and social care policy experience gained from her 17 years’ working in a variety of senior roles at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). Since 2018 Anna has worked independently of Government with high profile clients such as McKinsey and Co to support the transformation of primary and community care across Wiltshire, as a senior project manager for the Patients Association, as well as being a member of the National Association of Primary Care Faculty, leading work on the implementation of digital technology across North West London and more recently supporting the delivery of the national ICS PHM and Place Development Programme. Anna has a proven track record of evidence-based policy development, analysis and delivery in fast paced, high profile environments within DHSC; including white papers, Ministerial briefing and Parliamentary business, Prime Ministers’ Challenges and NHS CE strategic reviews. She has policy experience of leading work in the fields of dementia, innovation, health and social care regulation, competition and healthcare reconfiguration. A specialist in communications, engagement and stakeholder management, Anna has worked directly many influential and eminent figures in health and social care including Lord Darzi on the ‘NHS Next Stage Review’ which culminated in the publication of ‘High Quality Care for All’.
Moira Auchterlonie, Strategic Health Sector Consultant
With over 25 years working in primary care, Moira has a wealth of experience, knowledge, and common sense on prim
ary care strategy and healthcare policy. An asset at strategic board level, combining critical and strategic thinking with grassroots delivery and credibility. Moira has primary care running through her like a stick of Blackpool rock. Working with GPs and practice managers and system leaders, as CEO of the Family Doctor Association, as Practice Management Network board member, regular Judge at the General Practice Awards, and Vice-Chair of the National Association for Patient Participation. As a Healthcare UX Leader, Moira is now focussing on patient influence and involvement in the integration agenda. Roles include lay panel member at Royal College-led Trust reviews, General Osteopathic Council patient adviser, NHS England & Improvement PPG adviser, Healthwatch Rochdale and member of her GP Patient Participation Group.
Zulf Ali, Chief Executive, York Medical Group
Zulf Ali is an experienced leader with a passion for business transformation with an emphasis on enabling technology within the public and private sector. Having worked with some of the world’s largest companies, tech start-ups with high growth potential, Zulf has gained valuable insight into the ingredients for delivering tangible results by inspiring people to achieve collective goals. Experienced in strategy development, business planning, team development, business transformation/turnaround, and mergers & acquisitions. Gained through various leadership roles as Chairman, CEO, MD, Chief Strategy Officer, Director for Strategic Partnerships, Senior Consultant, strategic advisor, and Programme Manager.
Stephen James, Executive Director, Breckland Council, Norfolk
Steve James is an Executive Director at Breckland Council, which spans over 500 square miles in the heart of Norfolk and is one of the largest district councils in the country. Steve is keen to showcase the role district councils have in the wider health system and he is responsible for the delivery of the council’s Inspiring Communities corporate priority. This priority focuses on helping some of Norfolk’s most vulnerable residents by providing improved access to mental health support, tackles loneliness and social isolation, helps those in food poverty, and supports people experiencing domestic abuse. Under Steve’s stewardship, this £1m+ programme has brought together a range of public and private partners to deliver unique and effective interventions. These include: the development of the Early Help Collaboration Partnership, which has brought together around 40 statutory and voluntary organisations to support families and individuals; the implementation of NHS Social Prescribing services across Mid-Norfolk Primary Care Network; the launch of Norfolk’s first community supermarket in partnership with the Norfolk Community Foundation; and the creation of the Breckland Mental Health Community Partnership alongside Norfolk & Waveney MIND, rural mental health charity You Are Not Alone, and the NHS Wellbeing Service. The programme was named a finalist at the national Local Government Chronicle Awards 2022. Outside of work, Steve lives in Norfolk with his wife and family.
Dr Dustyn Saint, GP Partner, Long Stratton Medical Partnership, Norfolk
Dr Dustyn Saint qualified from Leeds Medical School in 2000 and stayed within the Yorkshire region to complete his GP
training. Dustyn then worked in the Midlands for 8 years as a GP partner and developed the practice to train both undergraduate and postgraduate students. He and his young family moved to Norfolk in 2012 and has since worked at several practices within the region before settling at Long Stratton as a partner in July 2013.
Dr Markus Maiden-Tilsen, CEO, Thanet Health CIC
Born German but adopted by an English father, Dr Maiden-Tilsen always had a special relationship with England. As a medical student he had the opportunity to work in England and discovered a much more down to earth and inclusive learning environment in the hospital departments. This inspired him, after completion of his medical studies, to come and work in England. He came across General Practice and the highly developed skills and functions provided by primary care in England led him to do the training as a GP which he completed in 2003. Dr Maiden-Tilsen had met a Thanetian girl who helped him to appreciate Thanet’s beauty in many different ways and he has been working in Thanet since 2004. He always has been very passionate about integrated and holistic care provision and is humbled and grateful to be part of the TH CIC which gives him the opportunity to work with a plethora of health professionals, services and stakeholders to develop a truly holistic, excellent and integrated workforce for Thanet – in Thanet. Working as a CEO for this company since 2017 enabled him to appreciate a wider strategic view and more tactical skillset within the fast changing and challenged NHS environment and strengthened his determination to work towards a truly integrated collaborative approach across sectors. Having been instrumental in developing Thanet’s Primary Care Homes with the help of the NAPC, bringing pharmacists into the practices, providing several clinical services across Thanets three PCNs he is delighted to be able to strengthen his relationship with the NAPC and support its work as a member of its council. Dr MMT is also interested in Music (avid singer as a soloist (Baritone) and in a choir), plays the flute and likes to be thrown and throw people about with Aikido.
Sarah Walker, Operations and Development Manager, Westongrove Partnership, Buckinghamshire
After a career in both retail and facilities management, Sarah has been working in Primary Care for 19 years, all of them at Westongrove Partnership. Sarah says this may seem like a long time with one organisation, yet every year has offered her the
opportunity to develop personally, take on new challenges and be part of an ever-changing environment which keeps her on her toes – day in day out. She is passionate about everything Westongrove stands for – the team, their wellbeing, their patient experience and developing and delivering services and patient care to the highest level, but it’s not easy. Primary Care is under huge pressure to deliver in increasingly demanding times, and Sarah believes that it is easy to become absorbed in what is happening within our own organisations but having been a member of NAPC for several years she further appreciates the value in working together, grasping innovation, sharing ideas, and supporting one another to ensure the robust future of healthcare. Sarah would like to join the council and be part of how NAPC influence and shape healthcare moving forward for those who work in it and for patient populations. Sarah recently received a distinction in a Post Graduate Certificate in Business Administration with the Open University and is a Mental Health First Aider and a QSIR practitioner. Sarah plans on embarking on a coaching qualification in the autumn. In her free time, you will find Sarah pottering in her garden, walking her small dog or settling down with a good book – possibly with a glass of wine!
Faye Hames, Faculty Member, NAPC
Faye, a Queens nurse with over 30 years NHS experience in several health settings including the Acute, Community, Voluntary, Charity, Commissioning Services and Primary Care.
As a commissioner, Faye played a critical role in establishing and embedding integrated, team-based working across healthcare, social care, the voluntary and charitable sectors in her local area and region; as a result, the approach used has been replicated across the wider health and social care economy. She is particularly proud of the work she initiated to support the care home sector during Covid which was recognised nationally.
Faye has developed and project managed a variety of services including End of Life Care, Frailty and Care home initiatives. She is experienced particularly in developing and maintaining professional relationships with key stakeholders at all levels and building multi-agency networks.
Faye is currently a member of the NAPC faculty and supports the CARE, estate and care navigation programmes. She is motivated by a desire to positively influence changes in the NHS, and a belief that the only option to get good outcomes for patients is to become engaged with local services to understand how they are delivered. When not at work Faye enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors and baking!
Dr Anup Shah BMBS, MRCOphth, PGCE, FRCGP, Clinical Ophthalmologist, Moorfields Eye Hospital
Dr Anup Shah BMBS, MRCOphth, PGCE, FRCGP has extensive experience of NHS Primary and Secondary care. He has been a Clinical Director of Potters Bar Primary Care Network since the inception of PCNs and during the formation and development of Integrated Care Systems. He is the Senior Principal of Highview Medical Centre in Potters Bar, and a GP Educator with Health Education East of England. Additionally, he works as a Clinical Ophthalmologist with the Moorfields Eye Hospital where he currently sits as a Governor of the Trust.
He is a Member of the Southwest Herts Clinical Care Partnership where is on the Primary Care Digital and Technology sub-committee. He is an Assembly Member of the East of England Clinical Senate. He has deep interest in International Healthcare, with experience of clinical care in the UK, the USA, Australia, India, Portugal and Kenya. His Primary Care leadership focus is around: Collaborative Leadership, Quality of Services, Patient Safety, Technology in Healthcare and Healthy Ageing.
Omar Malik, Physiotherapist Neuro Rehab, East London Foundation Trust
Subsequently, Omar transitioned to the Guys and St Thomas’s @home team, where he specialised in rapid response and admission avoidance therapy for 2 years. He then joined the GSTT Community Neuro rehab team for 5 months. Following this, he took up a locum role working in Neurology and stroke at the Homerton Hospital. Currently, Omar holds a position in the community Neuro rehab team for East London Foundation Trust.
Since moving into the community setting, Omar has gained insight into how it enables practitioners to provide optimal care to patients, resulting in positive outcomes for both patients and the healthcare system as a whole. His experiences have ignited a passion for primary care, particularly in improving communication and collaboration across different organisations to enhance health outcomes and the quality of life for service users.
Catherine Laverty, Faculty Member, NAPC
Cath qualified as a Registered Mental Health Nurse in 1988 and worked in acute mental health services before becoming a Community Psychiatric Nurse in 1990, gaining a Diploma of Higher Education in Community Health. She went on the develop and manage Manchester’s innovative Homeless Mental Health Service before moving into senior management roles. Her last substantive role in the NHS was managing Urgent, Acute and In Patient Mental Health Services across 3 acute trust footprints.
Cath has always taken a keen interest in Primary Care, sitting as a Professional Executive Committee and Nurse Board Member in North Manchester Primary Care Trust for 4 years, and taking a lead in developing primary care mental health services and commissioning of specialist services. During this time, she attained a Master’s Degree in Health Service Management at Manchester Business School.
From 2015 Cath took time off work to become a full-time carer for her parents, returning to the NHS in 2018 in the capacity of Non-Executive Director at Pennine Care NHS Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Trust for a period of 3 years.
Cath continues to work as a Non-Executive Director at Catalyse, a not-for-profit organisation promoting the benefit of Cognitive Analytic Therapy for individuals and services particularly in the public sector. She joined NAPC in December 2021 where she has primarily worked on the development and delivery of the CARE Programme, and more recently on delivery of Care Navigation Training.
Dr Donal Collins MB BCH DCH DME PGDipENT, Faculty Member, NAPC
Donal has a background in NHS GP experience spanning 27 years, with the latter half of his career spent in senior leadership positions. These roles included Senior Partner in a practice with 16,000 patients, Chairman of a primary care company delivering intermediate services to the community, and Chairman of a GP federation covering 40 practices and over 200,000 patients, which he played a pivotal role in establishing. During this time, he was the clinical lead for an NHS vanguard project in Hampshire, which received the HSJ system leadership award in 2019.
Donal is also the founder of BarlowCollins Ltd, a company with a mission to improve metabolic health by delivering insulin sensitivity to those who wish to enhance their well-being. One of their current projects in Havant, UK, has been running since 2021, with significant improvement in metrics within the engaged population. This project received an award at the Clinical Pharmacists’ Congress in 2021.
Donal is a medical director role at Redicare UK Ltd, a company gaining traction among Primary Care Networks in the south of England. He also serves as an advisor to Gosport and Fareham Academy School, where he works with school children to enhance the health of the town. Donal is also a member of the NAPC clinical faculty.
Dr Deb Gompertz, Complex Care Clinical Lead, South Somerset
Deb is a Complex Care GP and Clinical Lead for Complex Care in South Somerset. She helped set up their cross-organisational neighbourhood team from a Vanguard project 7 years ago. Prior to this she worked as a GP partner for 16 years and also worked in A@E as an Acute Care GP. Care of the older population, with shared decision making and person-centred care is her passion, whilst supporting upcoming professionals from all areas to show them the joy in this work.
As part of the NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur Programme she has developed skills to spread innovation and is particularly interested in appropriate person centred prescribing, and working together with adult social care. Deb also enjoys being a member of the British Geriatric Society where she is currently the Ageing Well/Proactive Care Lead for the Community and Primary Care Group.
Joanne Fox, Faculty Member, NAPC
Joanna sits within the digital team on NAPC Faculty, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge from an organisational, operational and project management perspective. With a background spanning many sectors from health/fitness and sports, hospitality, education, and a decade of insight from primary care. She currently writes and delivers national training programmes to PCNs for roles including but not limited to as, Leadership, Social Prescribing, Care Navigation, and many key users of the digital innovations entering the primary care landscape.
She has been instrumental in leading and delivering many projects and service re-design across the healthcare sector including migration of clinical system across a borough, merging of clinical systems across practices, and incorporation of PCNs. She continues to support PCNs and ICS/ICS across the country in matters such as PCN development and strategy, PCN Governance and business continuity, PCN service line design as well as workforce planning and workstream modelling, and digital adoption.
She has been involved in desktop research, end user qualitative evaluation, mobilisation for electronic consultations, early adoption of population health management tools, telephony systems, website design tools, she has spent the last two years specialising and supporting digital implementation, reviewing, and supporting developers with product design and challenging them on their ability to ensure features are fit for purpose and that products can demonstrate they deliver real world value and impact.
Joanna has supported the NAPC faculty on programmes of work such as marketplace analysis of online consultation providers framework, social prescribing link worker caseload management framework, and the implementation of long-term management tool for Hypertension across multiple ICS/ICBs.
Emma Bownas, Deputy Director of Improvement for Primary Care, Calderdale
In 2013, Emma transitioned into the field of Commissioning during the establishment of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). Her focus was on Quality, and she held the role of Head of Quality. Emma is currently the Deputy Director of Improvement for Primary Care in Calderdale, West Yorkshire (ICB). In this capacity, she has worked diligently with colleagues throughout Calderdale to initiate their journey into Population Health Management.
Having grown up in Calderdale and commenced her career there, Emma is enthusiastic about adopting a Population Health Management approach to enhance health outcomes for her community. Her passion extends to both patients and the dedicated healthcare professionals who deliver care. Emma firmly believes that employing a Population Health Management approach through collaborative partnerships maximises individuals’ potential and enhances outcomes. This work has put her team in a good position to embark on the development of neighborhood teams, building upon the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach to address rising health risks. Emma’s initiatives encompass children, young people, working-age adults, and older individuals, all of which are beginning to demonstrate the efficacy of innovative approaches.
Dr Manir Aslam, GP Partner, Broadway Health Centre
Dr. Manir Aslam is a GP partner at Broadway Health Centre, an inner city GP practice located in Birmingham. In addition to his role at Broadway Health Centre, Dr. Aslam has held significant leadership positions in the healthcare sector. He was appointed as the GP Director and Governing Body Member at Sandwell, and later, he assumed the position of Chair at SWB CCG, where he led the transition from SWB CCG to BSOL CCG.
As the Urgent Care Clinical Lead at the CCG, he has played a pivotal role in delivering key projects, including the integration of NHS 111 into GP clinical systems, the implementation of GP Out of Hours Flex services, and the improvement of a practice that was placed in special measures by CQC. Dr. Manir Aslam is driven by a deep commitment to reducing health inequalities. He recognises that these inequalities often stem from complex and deeply rooted social determinants of health. His focus is on ensuring that support and delivery systems are designed to address these challenges through practical measures that can make a real difference.
In 2017, he was honored as a local hero by Pulse, receiving the award for “Giving Hope for the Future.” Furthermore, his practice has been the recipient of three awards in the last three years, recognising their outstanding achievements in innovation and collaboration.