Photo of church and hills in the background

Our Board

Healthwatch Tameside has a board made up of a chair, a representative of Tameside Council, and appointed members.

Tracey McErlain-Burns - Chair

A Registered Nurse since 1984 with 20 years Executive Director experience within the NHS; in provider services, commissioning services and strategic leadership.  An unpaid carer, active member of a local Patient Participation Group and regular community volunteer. 

Jyoti Rao - Vice Chair

I am a writer and political activist concerned with ensuring equality.  Having studied Law, Technology and Management Science and Business Administration and gaining three Masters degrees I have also worked in industry, the public and voluntary sectors.  My roles have included Analyst in I.T. and Policy Officer.  My educational experience includes teaching graduates the subject of Management focusing on the Japanese methods of Kaizen.  I have contributed to administration in a number of departments in the NHS such as Patient Advice and Liaison Service, Medical Records, Human Resources, the Patient Information Centre and Information Governance.  I have assisted in Tameside Libraries as a Computer Buddy, and broadcast for the visually impaired with Tameside Talking News.  My experience at Board level also includes Manchester Advocacy Services, Stalybridge & Hyde Labour Women’s Forum, Stalybridge & Hyde CLP, Asante Cultural Forum, Opt-In and Tameside Sight.  My legal experience includes a number of mini-pupillages and marshalling a judge.  I am not a practising lawyer.

Our Board

Royce Goodier

I am currently working as a volunteer health champion at The Dukinfield Medical Practice. I do not have any medical qualifications, I am on the board to represent the views and to look at issues from the perspective of patients.

Glenis Lee

I have always been involved in the public/community sector, having worked for the Blood Transfusion Service, British Red Cross, the Royal National Institute of the Blind and latterly at Tameside Sight. My special interest is in supporting visually impaired people, particularly as life expectancy grows and the number of people with serious sight loss increases. Through my family I am also concerned with the provision of cardiac services and the treatment of people with haemophilia, the blood clotting disorder.

Julie Wood

I previously worked in housing in London, and then running a carers' project for Age Concern. I currently work at Tameside mental health charity Richmond Fellowship, as a community Links adviser. I have volunteered a great deal for various churches in Tameside, as well as at the Booth Centre. I have various ailments which have been longstanding so I bring a lived experience viewpoint, as well as professional insights. I have a degree in Theology and Religious Studies, PGCE 16-plus in adult education. I also have a Master's in Social Anthroplology and Masters in Anthropological Research, so unsurprisingly I'm interested in how people, organisations and societies work. I recently completed a Master's in Psychology giving the Graduate Basis for Chartership in Psychology, which I am interested in pursuing.

Fleur Piacentini

I previously worked in Change Management for blue-chip companies. In more recent years, I have worked within NHS Mental Health and Community Learning Disabilities Services. I currently work as a freelance Autism Consultant, training and advising NHS Trusts and Local Authorities, and I am a Director of Autistic UK. I have specialisms in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and Trauma. I work in advocacy for Autistic people, both adults and children. I am involved in national research projects investigating the health inequalities and long-term health consequences that Autistic people and otherwise Neurodivergent people face.

Glyn Goodchild 

I commenced working in the NHS in 1960 aged 14.5 years. Recently I completed 62 years of service. I held most levels of seniority in the service, starting as a Cadet and eventually becoming the Director of a service. My experience includes working with Autistic children, children with mental health issues, crisis intervention, and various specialities within the spectrum of mental health care, covering both institutional care and care in local communities. I have qualifications in psychotherapy, counselling and children's mental health. Further to my NHS experience, I Chaired the Governing body of a local Primary School for 42 years. I am excited to join Healthwatch and to be able to continue my lifelong relationship with the NHS and allied services, either local or National.

Linda Kent

I was an NHS nurse for 20 years specialising in acute medicine, endoscopy and research.  I led a team of Research Nurses, and managed the Research unit; we worked on many research projects, from Phase II clinical trials to long term observational studies over many disease areas.  It was a pleasure and a privilege to serve my patients and work with many people from many backgrounds and nations.  After working on the Intensive Care Unit in the Covid period and then returning to endoscopy for a short period, I retired in 2022 to concentrate on voluntary work, and my media business interests. I am currently a lay advisor for Manchester Academy for Healthcare Scientist Education, and working with Healthcare Scientist on the Patient Participant Initiative.  I also participate with the Tameside Greenspace programme, have been a school governor, and chairperson of British Fencing North West Region.

Tameside Council representative

 

Board meetings

Healthwatch Tameside holds regular board meetings. These meetings are open to members of the public (as observers), although Healthwatch Tameside reserves the right to discuss sensitive issues confidentially. If anyone wishes to attend these meetings, please call us on 0161 667 2526, or email info@healthwatchtameside.co.uk to book a place.

 

The dates for the meetings in 2024 will be released soon.

 

The minutes from previous meetings can be found below.

Minutes