Our Board

Our Board

Glyn Goodchild - Deputy Chair 

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.

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.

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.