The staff governors you elected are working with Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust on behalf of all colleagues.

They represent staff interests. You can help them carry out their role effectively by giving them your views, telling them how you think services could be improved, pass on the ideas and suggestions you feel would enhance patient care or the working lives of staff, and let them know what you think your hospital should offer.

There are five staff governors, representing separate ‘classes’ of the staff constituencies in the Trust.

The role of the staff governors includes:

  • Representing the interests and views of all staff throughout the organisation
  • Giving you information about the hospital, its vision and its performance
  • Selecting and appointing Non-Executive Directors and the Chair of the corporation
  • Approving the appointment of the Chief Executive
  • Attending meetings of the Council of Governors
  • Monitoring performance against the Trust’s Service Development Strategy and other targets
  • Using their influence through the Council of Governors to advise the hospital’s Board of Directors
  • Approving the remuneration of the Chair and Non-Executive Directors

Staff Governors are not there to deal with any personal issues you may be involved with.

For example, disciplinary procedures or changes to your contract.

They are not in a position to take on situations normally dealt with through personnel, staff-side organisations or trade unions.

Your Staff Governors

Luke Jenkinson - Allied Health Professionals, Pharmacists and Scientists

I originally qualified as a physiotherapist in 2014. I have had many roles in the NHS and also at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, including transformational roles like leading the Outpatient Improvement Programme, and recently becoming the Macmillan Project Manager. 

I continue to do clinical work at Chesterfield Royal Hospital in our amputee rehabilitation service where I enjoy using my skills and knowledge to provide exceptional care for our patients and community.

I became a #TeamCRH staff governor in 2020 - representing Allied Health Professionals, Scientists, and Pharmacists. Prior to this I served two terms as a public governor at Sheffield Children's Hospital.

I am an independent member of the education committee for the Health and Care Professions Council and I recently completed an executive education programme at the University of Sheffield, achieving a Master of Science degree in Strategic Leadership and Management.

Dr Laurence O'Connor-Read - Community and Primary Care

I currently work as a GP at Royal Primary Care and was appointed as a Staff Governor in late 2021. My aims for this role are to learn more about the Trust, its governing body and to help act as a conduit and representative for our Primary Care colleagues.

I have a particular interest in how Primary Care services benefit patients by evolving and integrating more closely with larger NHS organisations such as NHS Foundation Trusts. 

I have worked as a GP in the Trust’s Primary Care Directorate since January 2018 and prior to this worked in the Trust’s Emergency and Urgent Care Directorate between 2012 and 2016. This has given me some insight to the challenges at this interface between our primary and secondary care services and their evolving integration within the Trust.

Dr Lucy Jones - Medical and Dental

I am one of the newest Governors, joining in June 2022, representing Medical and Dental Services. I have been a consultant at Chesterfield Royal Hospital since 2010.

Starting my career in Emergency Medicine, I have been able to be involved in a diverse range of projects allowing me to understand the workings of the wider hospital and Trust, and work with sub-specialities for the benefits of patients.

For a part of my career, I was a mental health lead, research lead and Chair of the high-impact user working group. I have also been an active member of the hospital’s transfusion, mental capacity act, safeguarding and resuscitation committees.

I am currently a member of the project team for the Urgent and Emergency Care Development, and I am active in our ‘learning from incidents’ workstream to improve patient safety within our organisation.

The pandemic affected me in a different way to most of my colleagues, so much so I changed speciality completely – to Acute Medicine. I really enjoy challenges and driving change in different parts of the emergency patient’s journey.

My motivation for becoming a staff governor is to support my colleagues and ensure they are well represented at board level.

My specialist areas of interest are patient flow, patient safety and colleague wellbeing.

Eddie Lewis - All Other Staff

I have worked at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2008. I became a governor representing my colleagues in January 2021.

I am passionate about ensuring colleagues' views and experiences are represented and voiced. I believe it is through improving colleagues' experiences that you deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients and their families.

If you ensure that colleagues have the right tools, training, and experience to do their job, this will provide an excellent service for our community.

I have worked in I.T (Information Technology) for 30 years; first with Royal Mail and then with the NHS.

I have worked in all aspects of the I.T industry and appreciate that the right I.T solutions must be people centric. Systems and processes must enable colleagues to deliver the best care by ensuring that they are robust, intuitive, seamless, and safe.

Claire Whitbread - Nursing and Midwifery

I have worked in Health and Social Care for over 30 years, starting my career in a small residential home, then working for East Midlands Ambulance Service before finally commencing employment at Chesterfield Royal Hospital nearly 10 years ago.

My greatest achievement was getting voted by my colleagues to represent Nursing and Midwifery; I have the privilege of working alongside a loyal, caring, hardworking team - especially since the start of Covid. 

This proved that despite being under extreme pressure, how committed and dedicated colleagues are to caring for our patients.  I am so proud of all colleagues for all that they do every day, which is why it is my honour to be there for them and to represent them at the Council of Governors.