Introducing Healthwatch Wandsworth new committee chair Stephen Hickey
'I’m delighted to join Healthwatch Wandsworth. The NHS matters enormously, and Healthwatch has a vital role - working with patients and the wider community - in ensuring our local services remain absolutely focussed on delivering high quality services to the people of Wandsworth.
My earlier career was in the civil service, mainly in social security (also health and management training), and latterly in transport. I had joined the DHSS after a serious health problem in my 20s: so when I retired I was delighted to have the chance to support the NHS again through the Hospital Charity and the CCG. Joining Healthwatch is, for me, a chance to build on that experience.
In the last few years I’ve worked closely with the NHS, as a lay member of Wandsworth Clinical Commissioning Group (and, before that, the PCT); as a member of the Wandsworth Health and Wellbeing Board; and previously as a Trustee and Chair of St George’s Hospital Charity. Living in Wimbledon, St George’s is my local hospital - I’ve been a patient there and 2 of our children were born there.
Healthwatch relies on the engagement of its members and staff, and on volunteers, patients and communities across Wandsworth. We also need to work closely with the health services themselves, encouraging them where they seek to deliver high quality services, but challenging them where they fail. So I look forward to meeting and working with as many of you as possible in the months ahead!
