MEET THE HEALTHWATCH NORTHUMBERLAND STAFF TEAM
Derry Nugent
Derry leads the Healthwatch Northumberland staff team and works with the Board to ensure we listen to the communities of Northumberland when they talk about health and social care and use the strength of this collective voice to build relationships with providers and influence change.
Derry has wide experience working in senior and leadership roles in the public and charity sectors. She started her career in the Citizens Advice Bureau service before moving to grant making and fundraising. She is a serial volunteer and is currently a Justice of the Peace.
Claire Jackson
Before joining the team Claire worked for a leisure trust where she led on the Better Health at Work Scheme. She leads the PR, communication and marketing functions for both Healthwatch Northumberland and Adapt (NE).
With a keen interest in public health and health inequalities, Claire aims to reach as many people as possible, raising awareness of Healthwatch Northumberland’s work and sharing health promotion and prevention messages.
Laura Haugh
Prior to joining the Healthwatch Northumberland team, Laura gained experience in communication and marketing across a variety of sectors including housing, education and for a PR agency. She also spent time as a Communications Volunteer for the Northumberland MS Society group, helping them develop their communication channels.
Laura is looking forward to raising awareness about Healthwatch Northumberland’s work and helping the people of Northumberland’s voices to be heard. She enjoys creating interesting content and using social media platforms to engage with people.
Helen Brown
Our Engagement Officer Helen joined the team after working at Talking Matters Northumberland, on a project encouraging and supporting people into physical activity and promoting mental health awareness to sports and activity providers. Prior to this she worked in many charity sector organisations including Shelter, Women’s Aid and Victim Support.
She is looking forward to connecting and consulting with people in Northumberland about the health and social care issues that are important to them, making a positive difference to the services people use and raising awareness of the work of Healthwatch Northumberland.
Tim Hakim
Tim joined us after having spent most of his career working with children, young people and their families, both in the voluntary sector and local authorities across the North East. Before this he worked in the adventure travel industry where he developed his interest in customer satisfaction surveying and analysis. In his spare time Tim volunteers as a Trustee of West Northumberland Food Bank.
Tim is looking forward to working with colleagues in helping the people of Northumberland’s opinions and comments improve the health and social care services in the county.
Lorna Beech
Before joining the Healthwatch Northumberland team, Lorna worked as an Independent NHS Complaints Advocate, so understands the importance of helping people overcome barriers to accessing good quality health and social care services in their communities. Lorna is looking forward to listening to the experiences of a wide range of people who use services.
Lorna has also worked within the voluntary and education sectors. As a school PTA volunteer, she appreciates the value that volunteers bring, and is looking forward to working alongside them to further the work of Healthwatch Northumberland, whilst also making sure volunteering with us is an enriching and positive experience.
