Council of Governors

Below contains details of the currently elected Council of Governors. The Governors contact details is via Membership Office on 0161 922 6005. There should be 19 Governors; 11 public, 4 partnership and 4 staff.

Ashton-Under-Lyne

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Elected Member: Muni Coverley
Office expires: June 202​​​​​7

I have been a Tameside resident for 45 years, am a retired civil servant and worked for DWP for 35 years. I worked in the Disability Services supporting both, employers and individuals with disabilities to access all available support under the DDA.

Since 2004, I have served as a Magistrate. sat as a Panel Member on the Youth Justice bench, sit at both the Crown Courts on appeals and, until October 2024, served as a committee member on the Justices Training, Approvals, Authorisations and Appraisals panel.

I was a Patient Champion at the Ashton Medical Group Doctors Surgery since its introduction in the Community Wellbeing project. I enjoyed this new role of engaging with patients, both in and out of the surgery. My role was to support patients digitally, organise open days, drop in sessions at the surgery, and wellness activities.

I was a St John Ambulance volunteer from 2008-August 2024. I was part of the National Team that interviewed and recruited 30,000 volunteer vaccinators and carers. I trained as a vaccinator myself to support the NHS during COVID-19 pandemic and understand the pressures the service faces.

I am a wife, mother of two grown up children and a grandmother. I have a genuine interest in our local hospital and the community it serves.

 

Elected Member: Mike Ramsden
Office expires: June 202​​​​​7

I have been a resident of Droylsden for over 27 years, seeing many changes, both good and also of concern, to both the town and transport links. I encourage closer communication between the medical centres and  Tameside Hospital. In fact, the theme of my interest in becoming a Public Governor of the Trust is just that: ‘Communication’.

I am probably most recognised from my volunteer role on the unique scooter service, assisting patients and visitors with mobility issues to and from the clinics and wards.

It is this service that gives me an in-depth insight into the Trust's strengths and weaknesses, as the face-to-face contact with patients, visitors and staff provides real-time, direct and undiluted feedback of feelings and opinions of Trust users.

This insight can be a valuable resource to the Governors, Directors and Chair for the future development of the Trust in maintaining and developing its relationship with staff, patients and the wider community.

 

Elected Member: Annette Catterall
Office expires: June 2029

 

Glossop

Elected Member: Nicola Bruce
Office expires: June 2026

I have lived in Glossop with my family for over 16 years and currently work for Public Health in Derbyshire as a Service Development Officer. My role requires me to take an overall view of the health and wellbeing of the population in High Peak, and particularly around the effects on our health influenced by the wider determinants.

I am highly experienced and committed to promoting and enabling those relationships which allow patient-centered services to be properly integrated to provide us with good quality care. With a health improvement background, I have a deep understanding of the complex challenges facing the healthcare system and the importance of collaboration between different sectors to deliver high-quality care whilst also advocating the public's needs.

My experience has enabled me to work effectively to develop and implement integrated care initiatives that meet the needs of our communities, and I am a strong advocate for patient empowerment and aim to ensure that their voices are heard. Furthermore, my communication and interpersonal skills enable me to build strong relationships with professionals, communities, and other stakeholders to foster a collaborative approach to healthcare service design, implementation and delivery.

I will work hard to ensure that a high quality of care is provided to the people of Glossopdale.

 

Gorton and Denton

 

Elected Member: Vacant

 

Stalybridge and Hyde

 

Elected Member: Neil Phillips

Office expires: June 2027

I have been a parent governor at a primary school in Mossley. I have also been on several committees and been a chair at different organisations throughout my working life. I have a wide knowledge of industry and insurance.

I am a member of the Institute of Plant Engineers, Society of Operating Engineers and am an Incorporated Engineer. I am also registered for magnetic particle inspections for none destructive testing. Formerly I have worked as an assistant works engineer and I have been an engineer surveyor for many years.

I have been self-employed since retirement, working on two days a week on average.

I was born in Hyde and have lived in Mossley for almost 50 years. I am married to Margaret and we enjoy travel, walking, gardening and DIY.

 

Elected Member: William Moss 
Office expires: June 2027

As a retired healthcare professional at the North West Ambulance Service, I still have a strong interest in the health and wellbeing of the residents of the area, both physically and mentally. I work to support the interests of the people of the area to the best of my abilities. 

 

Elected Member: John Ward
Office expires: June 2029

I work as a TravelSafe Officer on the Bee Network, and I enjoy my job because it gives me the opportunity to help people travel safely and confidently across the network. Living with an underactive thyroid and Type 2 diabetes has given me valuable experience of using NHS services, and I want to use that experience to help improve healthcare for patients. My aim is to represent the views of patients and the local community, contribute to positive changes, and support the NHS in providing the best possible care for everyone.

 

Rest of England and Wales

Elected Member: Howard Austin
Office expires: June 2029

As of June 2026, I am one of the new Governors for the Tameside & Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, having previously served for five years as a governor at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

Whilst, so far, my experience is mainly around those issues affecting Stockport. I have many family, friends, and contacts who live in the areas served by Tameside Hospital and hear from them regularly about their interactions with Tameside and Glossop IC NHS FT. In addition, the current and ongoing work to bring the two trusts together in a close and mutually beneficial relationship has given me the opportunity to learn a great deal about Tameside and Glossop IC NHS FT, as well as giving me the privilege to work with most of my new Tameside and Glossop IC NHS FT governor colleagues over the past year or so.

For the immediate future, I believe that the project to bring Tameside and Glossop and Stockport trusts together - along with the complementary work of integrating health and social care into a single, seamless experience for all of our patients, their families and carers - provide a real opportunity to bring enormous benefits to everyone who uses and relies on our services.

However, like all such major structural changes, these two projects bring many challenges, difficulties, and potential "wrong-turns". I am totally committed to ensuring that both of these programmes are delivered in full, but I am equally committed to the concept of all governors from the two trusts working together to help deliver final outcomes that fully and equally benefit both of the trusts and their respective patients and service users, and staff.

 

Appointed Partnership Members

Organisation: Tameside College
Name: Nicola Welland

 

Organisation: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Name: Cllr Eleanor Wills

 

Organisation: High Peak Borough Council
Name: Cllr Anthony McKeown

 

Organisation: Healthwatch Tameside
Name: Linda Kent (Deputy Lead Governor)

 

Elected Staff Members

Name: Nicola Withington
Office expires: June 2027

I have worked for the Trust in Corporate Services for three and a half years in the human resources and education and training departments. I feel strongly that we are a progressive Trust with values and behaviours that reflect my moral standards and a culture that recognises the value of staff members and the contribution they make to the organisation. 

After 14 years working in a communications environment, I have spent the last 20 years working in the local government and education sectors and have been a Trade Union Representative and Health and Safety Representative for five years. I have always worked in environments where I have been dealing with people from all walks of life and varied responsibilities. I feel that I can provide a voice for my colleagues and include perspective of a local service user. As a local resident, who was born at Tameside Hospital and a current service user of the Trust, I am invested in making sure that the Trust operates in the best possible way and provides patients and relatives with the high quality care that they deserve. 

 

Name: Melanie Lamb
Office expires: June 202​7

I have worked in the education, training and develop department for two and a half years.  Over the years I have had a range of employment in the NHS in roles, including Staff Nurse, Addiction Recovery Worker and Healthcare Support Worker, so have first hand experience of some of the challenges staff can face on a daily basis.

I am passionate about staff welfare and equal opportunities, in particular with regard to staff development and access to training opportunities such as apprenticeships as per my current role as Vocational Development Co-ordinator.

I believe in the importance of staff having a voice and access to clear channels of communication with senior management, and to have an input around what is a priority for not only themselves but how they want to shape the focus of the Trust and its values.

 

Name: Noreen Shahzad
Office expires: June 2027

As a senior nurse with 16 years of dedicated service to the hospital, I am deeply invested in its success and committed to ensuring the best possible care for our patients. I bring a wealth of experience, ethical leadership, strategic thinking, and a passion for advocacy to this role. I work tirelessly to represent the interests of both patients and health care professionals, striving to improve the quality of care, promote transparency and uphold the values of the trust.

I am a member of a union, charity organisations, and chairwoman and founder of a women's community group. I am a community champion and won a diversity and inclusion award.

I can represent the interests of both patients and healthcare professionals, ensuring their voices are heard in decision-making processes. My frontline experience and leadership skills provide valuable insights into the challenges and needs of patients and staff, which inform policy and decision-making at the governance level. 

Next Council of Governors meeting:

• 17 June 2026 (3pm to 5:30pm) - George Hatton Room, Dukinfield Town Hall
• 2 September 2026 (2:30pm to 5pm) - Upper Ground Conference Room, Stopford House, Stockport
• 15 December 2026 (2:30pm to 5pm) - Newton Suite, Hyde Town Hall
• 9 March 2027 (2:30pm to 5pm) - Upper Ground Conference Room, Stopford House, Stockport

Location:

For further information, please contact Alison Lever, Membership Governance Manager.

Annual Members' Meeting 2026

• Thursday 24 September 2026 at 5pm (registration from 4:30pm) - Werneth House Lecture Theatre, Tameside Hospital