How we are formed
The Healthwatch Warwickshire Board of Directors is appointed by application and interview. The Board members have wide-ranging experience and are committed to improving the provision of local public services. All Board members (apart from our active observers) are invited to vote on various issues and the result of these votes helps us to set the direction and priorities for the year ahead.
How we make decisions
The ‘Articles of Association’ for Healthwatch Warwickshire CIC are available here, and detail how the Board makes strategic decisions.
If you would like to submit a question to the Board, please do so at least five working days before the meeting date, by emailing chair@healthwatchwarwickshire.co.uk.
You can read the minutes of Health Warwickshire's Board meetings here
Elizabeth (Liz) Hancock - Chair
Liz is the Chief Executive of the Mary Ann Evans Hospice, which offers Day Hospice, Hospice at Home, Lymphoedema Support and Bereavement Services to the people of northern Warwickshire and surrounding areas. Liz is the Chair of Governors at a local Infant School. In her own time, she enjoys coaching netball, walking and cycling.
Kate Morrison, Vice-Chair
Kate was appointed Chief Executive of Warwickshire CAVA in 2019, after working there in various roles for 10 years. Since June 2022 she has been Manager of New Hope Counselling and sits on the Voluntary and Community Sector Mental Health Alliance Partnership Board.
The diverse experience and knowledge she has gained in the voluntary sector over 30 years is what motivated her to join the Board of Healthwatch Warwickshire. She is committed to improving health and social care services and has a particular interest in mental health, learning disabilities and ensuring that refugees, asylum seekers and their families have access to appropriate health services.
Robin Verso, Vice-Chair
Robin joined the Board in April 2021 and is a graduate economist and qualified accountant who has worked in the public and private sectors. He is a former Deputy City Treasurer and Executive Director of Coventry City Council.
He has also worked for Rolls Royce Ltd, West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority and as a Management Consultant.
He has extensive governance experience including as a member and Chair of Warwickshire Probation Trust and Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel. He served on the Governing Body of NHS South Warwickshire CCG for 6 years up to 2021 and was chair of the CCG's Primary Care Committee.
Mike Flaxman
Mike chairs the Healthwatch Warwickshire Board Finance and Audit sub-group and sits on the Performance Review group.
Mike is a Public Finance Accountant who has worked with the NHS since 1975, holding board level Finance Director posts in London and the Midlands. Since 1993, Mike has provided business consultancy advice to the NHS on the development of business cases, service costing, strategic service development, estate strategies and in the use of Private Finance for capital investment in the NHS.
John Copping
John has a particular interest in mental health and related care services and is an influential member of a regional social enterprise of active mental health carers. Since qualifying as an NHS service improvement leader, John has been privileged to lead joint-working with mental health commissioners and providers from across the region.
Dr Leonard Harvey FRCOG LLM
Since 2005, Len has been Honorary President at the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). UEMS is a Brussels-based non-governmental organisation representing Medical Specialists (1.6 million) in the European Union and in associated countries, which aims to promote patient safety and the quality of care through the development of the highest standards of medical training and health care across Europe.
Len is also Chairman of the Governance Board of EACCME, which is the recognised Accreditation Body for Continuing Medical Education in Europe.
Prior to these senior governance roles, Len enjoyed a long and successful career as a Medical Director and Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Rugby NHS Trust. He was appointed a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists – FRCOG in 1978 and obtained a Master of Law degree (LLM) in 1992.
Gita Patel
Gita left the Board in November 2024. We would like to thank Gita for her long standing involvement with Healthwatch Warwickshire and her many contributions throughout these years.
Gita has worked within acute hospitals throughout her career and has managerial experience in both clinical and non-clinical departments. She understands the NHS regulatory and governance framework and is passionate about patient and carer advocacy.
Gita was previously a school governor at a local primary school for eight years and is now a parent governor at Kenilworth Secondary School.
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse
Jerry is a past Chair of Warwickshire Local Involvement Network (LINk) and a locally elected councillor on Rugby Borough and Warwickshire County Council. He is grounded in the community, working at all levels through organisation such as Age UK, Local Strategic Partnerships and Care Quality Commission (CQC). Jerry holds a special interest in the health and well-being and the dignity agenda.
We hold our Board Meetings every other month; at 10:30am on the 2nd Tuesday of the month in January, March, May, July, September, and November.
David Alexander – Active Observer
David is one of Healthwatch Warwickshire’s long-term volunteers and an Authorised Representative, and also an Active Observer on the Board. This allows David to participate (but not vote) in Board discussions. David and Su share this role.
David decided to volunteer for Healthwatch Warwickshire after retiring from a career in Social Work. David is interested in the welfare and quality of life of older people in Residential Care, having had experience of social care as a relative of someone in a Care Home.
Susan Jenkins – Active Observer
Su is one of Healthwatch Warwickshire’s long-term volunteers and an Authorised Representative, Su shares the active observer role on the Board with David. Being Active Observer allows Su and David to participate in Board discussions but not vote.
Su has a background in the NHS as a Clinical Scientist in Pathology, until a change in career lead her to project managing and installing IT systems in the NHS. She is currently involved with work around Cancer and is a patient advocate for the West Midlands Cancer Alliance Expert Advisory Groups for Breast and Skin Cancer and Radiotherapy; HCP (STP) Cancer Board; and Radiotherapy Governance for UHCW and Worcester Royal Hospital.
Su also assists in running Breast Cancer Support Groups in Leamington and Stratford upon Avon.