David Boyland (Chair)

David has worked for the Healthcare Commissioners, reviewing NHS complaints and for the Welsh Assembly reading the development of Guidance for Public and Patient Involvement in the NHS in Wales. He was a member of the PPI forum for Taunton & Somerset NHS Trust, a member of the previous LINK Stewardship Group, and is currently a Patient safety Champion with NHS Somerset. David says: "I have a genuine, rather than cosmetic, interest in public and patient involvement in Health and Social care matters."

Bob Champion (Vice-Chair)

Richard R Champion, known as Bob, spent the last 30 years of his working life with what's now called 'South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust'. He spent most of it on the road and on several occasions acted up to Station and Divisional Officer. I have been a Town and or a District Councillor since 1989, then in September 1998 appointed by Mendip District to be their representative to the Somerset Community Health Council, was made vice chairman for the last two years of its life. Then I joined the PPIs (Patient & Public Involvement) which replace the CHC health watchdog.

When on the CHC I became involved with the Somerset County Councils 'Overview & Scrutiny Committee' again a health watchdog, this involvement continued after the demise of the CHC, this when with the PPIs included Cornwall and Devon OSCs. In November 2003 I was appointed as a forum member to the 'South Western Ambulance Service PPI' and during our first meeting I was elected as Chairman of the Forum. In June 2007 I was approached by Taunton & Somerset Hospital to be a Mendip Public Governor this I accepted and left the PPI.

Eilleen Tipper (Rep on the Clinical Commissioning Group)

I have been involved in health as a patient and public involvement volunteer since 2002. I work with Musgrove Park and the PCT. I was chair of the PPI forum for Somerset Partnership before the LINk. Because I came from education I am particularly interested in promoting the health and well being of children and young people and giving them a voice.

I also have an interest in inclusion and the provision of services to vulnerable groups and individuals which includes improving safeguarding practices.

I have worked with patients and carers and am committed to the development of user participation in Somerset.
I have also been involved in commissioning and procurement and am therefore especially interested in working with the development of GP commissioning.

Diane Jepson

(Rep on the Health and Wellbeing Board)

Waiting for info about Diane...

Penny Rawson

Dr Penny Rawson runs a consultancy specialising in Brief Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. She is a BACP accredited Psychotherapist & Supervisor. She runs training courses in the Brief Approach to Therapy. She has numerous published articles to her name and 3 published books. Penny has served on a number of National Committees including the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy's (BACP) Accreditation & Standards & Ethics. She worked as a therapist for many years managing services in higher Education (London) as Director of a Youth Counselling Service (Hants) and participating in one the first Employee Assistance Programmes (EAP) in Britain, in Somerset. Penny has a special interest in spirituality and also runs Bereavement Courses.

Elaine Hodgson

Elaine says: "I have been a service user (mental health mainly) for many years. I am committed to giving back to all those who have helped me on the road to recovery. I am also committed to being a volunteer in helping in helping other service users to gain confidence and empower themselves, to have a voice that can be heard and so improve their mental well-being. I am also committed to fighting any discrimination to stigma, in any walk of life."

Anne Woodford

Anne's background is in training, assessing and verifying various NNVQ's up to level 5. She was previously self-employed training workers and their managers in Devon, Cornwall, Surrey, Ireland and Bristol. Formally a lecturer in FE College Cornwall. (NNVQ's teaching Management skills & Communications), in the 90's she represented Open University Students in the South West on National Committees & Conferences which were in various parts of the county. Anne gained an MA at the age of 62 and later still a DIP in Life Coaching. Her interests are sketching and printing, writing & singing with UBA groups, playing scrabble and relaxing with friends and family who all live a distance away. Anne says: "I enjoy cooking, reading watching TV, playing croquet, short walks and keeping in contact with distant friends via the internet."

Lorna King

Lorna has worked with Somerset County Council as a Youth Worker. She takes a keen interest in involvement and a member of Musgrove Hospital. Lorna has also worked with Bridgwater Social Services helping school-aged young mothers.

Cliff Puddy

Waiting for some info about Cliff ...

Chris Rugg

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Julie Roost

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Justin Charnock

Waiting for some info about Justin ...