Page updated: 27 Jun 2011
Members of the cluster board
Professor Eileen Fairhurst, chairman
Professor Eileen Fairhurst was appointed chairman of NHS Greater Manchester in April 2011. This is the fifth NHS organisation she has chaired. She had previously established Salford Teaching PCT in April 2001.
Eileen Fairhurst has a PhD in Sociology and is professor in public health at the University of Salford. Her national and international academic profile rests upon her research, conference presentations and publications in the areas of sociology of the life course, health policy, research methods and partnership working.
She was awarded an MBE in 2008 for her contribution to the NHS. In the same year she was made a fellow of the British Society of Gerontology and awarded an honorary DSc from Salford University.
Dr Mike Burrows, chief executive
Dr Mike Burrows was appointed as chief executive of NHS Greater Manchester in April 2011. Mike had previously held the post of chief executive at NHS Salford.
Originally a doctor of biochemistry, Mike joined the NHS in 1986 through the regional financial management training scheme. Upon qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1990 he then worked in various roles around the north west region before joining Salford Primary Care Trust in 2001.
Dr Julie Higgins, director of commissioning development
Julie Higgins was appointed director of commissioning development in May 2011. Julie’s previous role was as chief executive of NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
Prior to this, Julie was the director of public health for Salford and deputy chief executive at NHS Salford. Julie’s earlier career included roles as deputy director of public health at NHS Salford, promotion officer in Oldham. She has also had a research career in immunology.
Hilary Garratt, director of nursing
Hilary Garratt was appointed as director of nursing of NHS Greater Manchester in May 2011. Hilary’s previous role was within NHS Tameside and Glossop, where she held the post of deputy chief executive, executive director of commissioning and executive nurse.
Her other roles within the PCT included as chief operating officer where she prepared the provider division for transfer as part of the Transforming Community Services programme. Under her leadership, the provider division won a host of prestigious awards from the Nursing Times and HSJ, including the HSJ Secretary of State's Award for Excellence in Health Care Management in 2008.
Hilary began her career in the acute sector as a nurse and then a health visitor. Her management career has included roles at Salford Community NHS Trust, Salford PCT, as well as acting in a consultancy role to Trafford PCT.
In addition to her professional qualifications, Hilary holds an MSC from Manchester Business School, a post graduate certificate in education, and a first class BSc (hons) degree. She has also been a visiting lecturer at both Manchester Metropolitan and Salford Universities.
Jan Hutchinson, director of public health
Jan Hutchinson is the director of public health at NHS Bolton and represents the ten Greater Manchester directors of Public Health at the cluster board. Jan leads on the health improvement agenda, working with partners to reduce health inequalities.
Jan's background is in nursing, and her interest in public health developed when she was pursuing a career in health visiting. She believes partnership working is a key factor in her role.
Dr Raj Patel, medical director
Dr Raj Patel is a Manchester University Graduate, qualifying in 1985. He worked in north Manchester as a junior doctor before spending a year in general practice in Australia. He returned to take up a GP post in Hyde where he is a partner at the Brooke Surgery.
Raj has been involved in organisational work within the NHS since 1997, starting with Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Group. He has chaired the Professional Executive Committee of Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust since 2002.
He is a former advisor to the Department of Health and more recently has chaired the Staying Healthy workstream of the North West Darzi Review.
Claire Yarwood, director of finance
Claire Yarwood was appointed as director of finance of NHS Greater Manchester in May 2011. Claire previously held the post of director of finance at NHS Salford.
A qualified accountant, Claire has worked at Central Manchester Health Authority and Christie Hospital where she worked in many different financial and management roles over a 14-year period before moving to Manchester Health Authority in its final year of existence.
Warren Heppolette, acting director of policy and external relations
Warren Heppolette's previous role was as the Ddrector of the Association of Greater Manchester PCTs, a post he'd held since 2006.
Prior to joining the NHS, Warren worked for 12 years in local government in a number of roles including housing management, scrutiny, corporate and health policy.
Warren is also a founder director of the Greater Manchester Health and Well Being Consortium supporting voluntary sector involvement in health and well being services.
Dr Evelyn Asante-Mensah OBE, non-executive director
Dr Evelyn Asante-Mensah is the locality board chair of NHS Manchester.
Evelyn was first appointed as chair of NHS Manchester following the merger of North, Central and South Manchester PCTs to form NHS Manchester on 1 October 2006. She was previously chair of Central Manchester PCT, a position she had held since 2000, and a non-executive director of Manchester Health Authority between 1998 and 2000.
Evelyn is also currently head of equality and economic inclusion for the Northwest Regional Development Agency, following a secondment to Government Office for the north west as a strategic adviser for Community Cohesion and Diversity. She was chief executive for the Black Health Agency and worked with the organisation for 14 years.
She holds a Master of Arts degree from Manchester Metropolitan University and became a common purpose graduate in 2002. In 2003 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (DLtt - Doctor of Letters) Degree for her services to the black and minority ethnic communities in the field of health and health improvement from Manchester Metropolitan University. She was also awarded the OBE for services to ethnic minorities and health in the New Year’s honours list in 2006. Evelyn served as a commissioner for the Equal Opportunities Commission until its disestablishment in September 2007.
Terry Atherton, non-executive director
Terry Atherton is the locality board chair of NHS Trafford.
Terry is retired from a professional background in the corporate banking sector. As a qualified banker, he has held a variety of senior management posts for Nat West Plc between 1965 and 2000.
Immediately prior to taking early retirement from Nat West Plc he was corporate director for Large Corporates North West and North Wales. This was preceded by posts as regional head of credit, corporate director for the Nat West Business Centre on Merseyside.
Today, he retains several non-executive offices within organisations including the Merseyside Special Investment Fund and Beverages Direct. However, he has also held a number of other appointments within the north west in a voluntary and non-executive capacity.
Mr Atherton is married with one son. He is a keen golfer and has an active interest in Motorsport, having formerly been a serious rally car co-driver and a British Rally Class Champion. He has also been North West of England Rally Champion.
David Edwards, non-executive director
David Edwards is the acting locality board chair for NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.
David worked in advertising and later became an art therapist in the NHS. He helped establish charity Turning Point nationally, extending its work into mental health and learning disabilities, and was chair of Heywood & Middleton PCT in 2001 for five years.
David lives in Middleton and has a particular interest in mental health issues, substance misuse and public health.
Dr Kailash Chand, non-executive director
Dr Kailash Chand is the locality board chair for NHS Tameside and Glossop.
Originally qualified in India, Kailash was a GP at Stamford House in Ashton for several years. He has worked as a GP since 1983, prior to which he was involved in hospital medicine in Britain.
Kailash has several years experience in community development through work with local governments and a wide range of community and statutory groups. Much of this work has been voluntary, demanding a wide range of skills and experience that included understanding policies, enabling projects for cultural development programmes and supporting infrastructure development of community groups. He has also raised awareness and addressed gaps in educational and cultural opportunities and provision for racial minorities.
Kailash gained the position as chair at NHS Tameside and Glossop in July 2009. He is also chairman for Tameside & Glossop BMA, holds various positions on BMA committees, and serves as a member of various health and scrutiny panels within the local borough. He is also the vice-chairman of the International council of Indian languages and Culture, which promotes integration and understanding in multiracial Britain.
Paul Horrocks, non-executive director
Paul Horrocks is the locality board chair of NHS Bury.
Paul left the Manchester Evening News in 2009, having been the editor since 1997. He joined the Manchester Evening News in 1975 as a general news reporter from the Daily Mail. He is the former president of the UK Society of Editors, and was a member of the Press Complaints Commission for four years.
Paul's community interests include membership of the fundraising board for Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Our Life, which promotes health and wellbeing in the north west, directorship of Midas (a not-for-profit organisation that provides free help and advice to companies who are relocating to Manchester) and directorship of Tatton Park Trust.
He is also the director of a media and communications consultancy, Essential Communications, and an independent governor of the University of Bolton.
Born and bred in Bury, Paul and his four grown up children all live and work in the borough.
Riaz Ahmad, non-executive director
Riaz Ahmen is the locality board chair of NHS Oldham.
He has been chair of NHS Oldham since 2002 and he was awarded an OBE in 2008. During his eight years as chair, Riaz has helped to steer siginificant improvements in health care in Oldham, which has historically had a high level of deprivation. These have included:
- Five new health centres built through the LIFT programme, including the Oldham Integrated Care Centre, that has brought together a range of health and well-being services in a central location and many other health centres have been refurbished
- Setting up the award-winning dental nurse cadet scheme
- Bringing more GPs and dentists to Oldham
- Screening and immunisation programmes which in some cases have had some of the highest levels of uptake in the North West and the country
- Working in partnership to provide COPD sessions, as part of a wider respiratory programme, which have helped to improve participants’ health
- Reorganising urgent care to streamline services for patients
- Setting up a new radiology service
- Setting up an anti-coagulation service
- Bringing urology, dermatology, musculoskeletal, ear nose and throat CATS services to Oldham which have brought services closer to patients’ homes
- Collaborating with Oldham Community Health Services to focus on healthy lifestyle activities and prevention of ill health
- Setting up the community matrons team to help prevent emergency hospital admissions for older people with long-term conditions
- Working with Oldham Council on many schemes including an adult care in the home project
It is because of this work and much more that NHS Oldham was awarded Health Service Journal Organisation of the Year in 2006.
Riaz is a fellow of the Chartered Certified Accountants and has run his own accountancy practice in central Manchester since 1986. He is also a magistrate and chairman of the Greater Manchester Courts Board.
Riaz was the borough’s first Asian mayor in 2002. He was named Man of Oldham in 2003 and he won the social and community prize in the 2002 Asian Jewel awards. He is also chair of governors at Greenhill Primary School in Oldham and a governor at the Waterhead Academy, also in Oldham.
Michael Greenwood, non-executive director
Michael Greenwood is the locality board chair of NHS Stockport.
Michael was previously a non-executive director at Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust and he is a qualified accountant. He was the director of Local Government Practice (North West) at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister from 2003 until 2006.
Previously, he was chief executive of Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council between (1990 to 2003) and prior to that, chief executive and county treasurer of Powys County Council. He started his local government career in Leeds.
Michael lives in Stockport and is married with two grown up daughters.
Pam Senior, non-executive director
Pam Senior is the locality board chair of NHS Bolton.
A resident of Bolton since 1978, Pam Senior practised as a biomedical scientist before working as a lecturer in higher education. She has a batchelor’s degree in biochemistry and physiology and a masters in education. She has served as an elected member on Bolton Council, been active in the voluntary sector, both locally and nationally, and has been a member of several governing bodies at all levels of the education system.
She has worked with the former North West Regional Health Authority and served as a non-executive director on the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service before being appointed as chair of NHS Bolton (the Primary Care Trust) in late 2001. She was awarded the MBE for services to healthcare and the local community in the New Year’s honours of 2008 and an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton in July 2010.
Alan Stephenson, non-executive director
Alan Stephenson is the locality board chair of NHS Ashton, Leigh and Wigan.
Alan has an extensive background in the health service and local government.
He was first elected to a council in 1981 and served 21 years, intially on Greater Manchester Council and then on Wigan Council. He held the posts of chairman of the Social Services Committee and cabinet member for business and regeneration. Alan was also the national treasurer of the Coalfield Communities campaign.
In the early 1990s, Alan chaired the Wigan and Leigh Community Health Council before being asked in 1997 to chair the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service NHS Trust Board. He was appointed chairman of Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust in October 2006.
Alan has previously served as a trustee of the NHS Confederation and presently represents north west PCTs on the board of the PCT network. He also chaired the reference group for the Dr Foster Intelligence publication 'The Intelligent Board 2009: Commissioning to Reduce Inequalities'.