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 29 Governors; 15 public, 7 partnership and 7 staff.

Ashton

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Elected Member: Champak Mistry
Office expires: June 2026

My name is Champak Mistry. I am a retired CNC programming engineer, I worked up from an apprentice to managing occupational safety and health (IOSH). I have lived in Tameside for over 40 years I am married with two daughters and one son. My eldest daughter is head of customer services for Barking and Dagenham Council. My Daughter works as a homeless officer in Northamptonshire.  My son is a domiciliary optometrist and my daughter in law is a GP in Derbyshire.

I am heavy involved with the local Indian association, I work hard to raise awareness and educate members to improve integration and well being within the community.

As an elected member I will represent the views of people whom struggle to share their views due to language barriers. I endeavour to improve services to meet the needs of our community. 

 

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.

 

Glossop

 

Elected Member: Dr Lesley Surman (Lead Governor)
Office expires: December 2025

My approach to life is fundamentally practical and humanitarian. I worked within clinical and educational health care setting all my working life attaining professional qualifications, a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degree (all health care related) and lots of experience, knowledge and understanding.

Since retiring in 2011 I have become increasingly involved in promoting the patient/public voice and the advocating for the benefits of patient/public participation, with a particular focus on the Glossopdale Neighbourhood 

I am Chair of the Glossopdale Patient Neighbourhood Group (GPNG) and the Tameside and Glossop Patient Network (PN); here we work closely with T&G ICFT and other commissioning/delivery groups to inform and keep central the public interests.

 

Elected Member: Nicola Bruce
Office expires: June 2026

 

Gordon and Denton

Elected Member: Mike Walker

Office expires: June 2027

I am Mike Walker and having lived in Denton for 60 years I and am honoured to now represent my town as a Governor at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

The appointment is the latest chapter of a lifetime of community support that includes over thirty years police service, retiring as an Inspector at Tameside. Followed by charity fundraising for the NSPCC, The David Lewis Epilepsy Centre at Alderley and as Fundraising Manager at The Beechwood Cancer Care Centre in Stockport. I have been Chairman of my local residents association and a Governor at Corrie County Primary School.

I look forward to another challenge and to be supported by my wife Irene, my children Michelle and her husband Dave, Alan his wife Kim and my grandchildren Hollie, Adam and Jack.

 

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: Richard Umpleby (Deputy Lead Governor)

Office expires: June 2026

I spent many years as a health care worker for the health sector. I have worked in learning disabilities, mental health and general health with many years over in Accident and Emergency. I have seen the NHS over many years from both a health worker side and as a patient and family member. I have read law at university and now want to give my time to volunteering for the public. I volunteer for a HIV charity, The National Autistic Society as a tribunal volunteer and as a local school governor. 

 

Elected Member: Nigel Lenegan
Office expires: June 2026​​​

Born and raised in Oldham, I grew up making regular visits to Grandma Smith who lived in Ashton and worked as a Sister in maternity services at Tameside Hospital for 40 years. I live in Mossley, so Tameside is home.

I am the founder and co-owner of Energy & Carbon Reduction Solutions Ltd, started in 2009 in my loft in Mossley, providing energy and carbon reduction advice and support to the healthcare sector. I am a Chartered Engineer working in a team of process, electrical, mechanical and controls engineers and building facility experts.

Our company specialises in saving energy and reducing carbon in complex buildings such as Hospitals and laboratories.

 

Elected Member: William Moss 
Office expires: June 2027

 

Rest of England and Wales

Elected Member: Vacant

 

Appointed Partnership Members

Organisation: Tameside College
Name: Nicola Welland

 

Organisation: Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
Name: Cllr Eleanor Willis

 

Organisation: High Peak Borough Council
Name: Cllr Anthony McKeown

 

Organisation: Healthwatch Tameside
Name: Linda Kent

 

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: Raja Swaminathan
Office expires: June 2026

I have frontline experience in the NHS surgical constituency, as a junior trainee doctor to being a consultant, spanning more than 20 years. I bring my experience in constructive dialogue, clinical governance, teaching, training and education. As a consultant orthopedic surgeon for more than 10 years, I have knowledge and experience of the challenges faced by the frontline staff in providing gold standard patient centered care.

I believe that with openness, transparency and collaborative working, work force engagement could be improved further.  I am enthusiastic to bring about change in the work place environment, in an evolving 21st century NHS, with changing expectations from patients and regulatory bodies. I am proud to represent the surgical workforce in the council and help in adherence to the standards set by the NHS constitution. 

 

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: Myles Kitchener
Office expires: June 202​6

I have worked for the Trust in the Estates & Facilities division for the past three years, heading up the catering and retail department, and have a plethora of catering experience in the public and commercial sector over the past 35 years.

I am both enthusiastic and proud to be nominated as a non-clinical staff governor, being able to raise the contribution and profile of all staff, and promoting positive staff wellbeing, with an aim to achieve improved outcomes and high-quality effective services.

I will ensure the Trust maintains a clear vision, a transparent approach and a focused development strategy, acting as a ‘critical friend’ and willing to challenge where necessary.

 

Name: Noreen Shahzad
Office expires: June 2027

Dates for 2024

• Wednesday 11 December (3:30pm)

Dates for 2025

• 13 March 2025 (5:30pm)
• 10 June 2025 (5pm)
• 3 September 2025 (5pm)
• 11 December 2025 (10am)

Location:

Meetings are currently taking place in Werneth House unless otherwise advised. For further information, please contact Alison Lever, Membership Governance Manager.

Annual Members' Meeting 2025

• Thursday 25 September (5pm)