Constituency one

Mrs Judy Carrick moved to England from the US in 1973 and has had a varied and happy working life here. Starting as a lecturer, she has taught and lectured, written magazine articles, books and exams before moving into training and quality improvement consultancy.

Her interests include walking, grand opera and all things Newcastle.

As an elected Governor, Dr Alexandros Dearges-Chantler hopes to bring some of his varied experiences gained over the past 35 years to help the Trust fulfil its 5 year strategy, and to focus on improving the quality experience of staff, patients and the wider community and delivering sustainable health care.

Dr Dearges-Chantler has experience at senior management and director level in the private, public and university sector. His expertise is with the British Council in a number of countries, especially focusing on customer engagement and relationship management, director for global projects in marketing and communications and this has been replicated working with Universities. He was the Chairman of Healthwatch Newcastle, which allowed him to focus on his passion for involving service users, their families and community to ensure that their voices were heard by policy makers and acted upon.

He is an advocate and supporter of LGBT+ rights, especially supporting those with HIV and is also a member of his GP patient’s panel.

Dr Eric Valentine was elected as a Governor in 2021 and is a retired professor of civil engineering who has worked extensively in New Zealand and Australia, as well as in Newcastle, over a career of 50 years. He retains interests in environmental research and in the great outdoors. He came to Newcastle in 1986 and has been a beneficiary of treatment in the Trust.

Eric wishes to use his experience and knowledge of large educational and research organisations to help maintain the highest standards of care in a supportive and collaborative way.

Mrs Aileen Fitzgerald was appointed as a Governor in 2021 and has spent many years working within the NHS in clinical, senior management, primary care and commissioning roles. She is a health visitor by profession and has a particular interest in improving services for children, young people and young adults.

Aileen is passionate about the NHS and wants to use her experience in the role of Governor to help improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

Mrs Pam Yanez is a retired NHS manager and transplant coordinator. Mrs Yanez believes in the delivery of world class healthcare to our residents.

She wishes to use her extensive knowledge of the NHS towards achieving this as a Governor of Newcastle Hospitals. Pam is also passionate about promoting the welfare of patients with kidney disease.

David Forrester is a retired nurse manager and general manager in the NHS. First elected as a Governor in 2018, David has the desire to use his experience in the service of the NHS as a Governor. The patient journey is a particular interest. David had his robotic prostate operation at the Freeman Hospital.

David runs cycling groups for Sustrans and is very active for both Prostate Cancer UK as a one to one counsellor (talking to newly diagnosed men) and as an awareness raiser and for Cancer Research UK as an ambassador.