Clinical and Care Governance Committee

Councillor Anne Hannah, Falkirk Council

Councillor Hannah has extensive experience working in local government, covering Inverclyde, Lothian, City of Edinburgh and now serving as a member for Lower Braes.

Holding a degree in Social Policy from Edinburgh University and a Diploma in Legal Studies from Edinburgh Napier University, Anne has a career working in Welfare Rights, working to support older people, those living with a disability, and families to access support.

Her experience covers both professional and personal, having also provided support for family members – providing a service user’s view of the health, social care, and welfare landscape.

Stephen McAllister, NHS Forth Valley (Vice Chair)

Stephen is a former senior Police Officer, with expertise in leadership, governance and performance management. Having held the position of Police Division Commander in Forth Valley prior to his retirement, Stephen understands the complexities of delivering a unitary service across three local authorities, and has a good knowledge of the Falkirk’s physical and social geography. Since leaving Police Scotland, he has built up non-executive board experience in both the voluntary and public sector and as a consultant in mental health improvement and negotiation.

Margo Biggs, Service Users Representative

Margo has extensive experience of representing patients’ interests and monitoring the quality and suitability of service provision. She currently sits on the Patient Public Panels covering Forth Valley Hospitals and the interests of patients and carers in Falkirk. She is a member of the RCGP P3 Patient Group looking at ways in which patients can become more involved and has previously been a lay review visiting GP practices.

She has been a public partner with Health Improvement Scotland for many years doing hospital visits, latterly as an HEI Inspector and a member of SIGN (Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network) contributing to Patient Versions of Guidelines. Prior to taking early retirement, Margo taught Modern Studies, tackling political issues nationally and internationally and concentrating on health and social care.

Roger Ridley, Staff representative 

Roger is the union representative from Falkirk Council on the committee. Roger has worked in social work for thirty five years. Working in children and families social work as a social worker and manager most of that time but moving to adults services as a mental health officer over the last few years.

Thus, Roger feels the values that brought him in to social work all those years ago still motivate him both in his work with Unison but also his role as representative on the board, trying to see individuals and communities holistically

Victoria McRae, Third sector representative

Appointed as CEO of CVS Falkirk at the end of 2020, Victoria has extensive experience in both the private and third sector, working with the organisation since 2010.

CVS Falkirk & District is the third sector interface for the Falkirk area, with a primary role in ensuring the continuation and development of a vibrant local third sector.

Victoria and the CVS team support local partners in creating change and making a lasting, valued, difference to the communities of Falkirk.

Patricia Cassidy, Chief Officer

Originally training as a nurse, Patricia has worked with a various health boards in a range of roles, including health education and health promotion. She has served as a specialist visiting lecturer in health studies and community nursing at Glasgow Caledonian University and has also worked in national roles with sportscotland, the Scottish Consumer Council and the Health Education Board for Scotland. Patricia has considerable experience and knowledge of working in local authorities, having previously held senior positions at Aberdeen City Council and Inverclyde Council.

Sara Lacey, Chief Social Work Officer

Sara is Falkirk’s Chief Social Work Officer and is head of Falkirk Council’s social work children’s services. Since becoming a qualified social worker in 1996, she has worked in a variety of practice and leadership roles within local authority, third, and independent sectors. Prior to joining Falkirk Council, Sara was the Managing Director of a national residential child care organisation and spent time overseas developing home based nursing services for people with critical health issues and at end of life. Sara’s current role as Head of Service includes responsibility for Criminal Justice Services.

Dr Andrew Murray, Medical Director

Andrew is Medical Director for NHS Forth Valley. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1988 and worked in Scotland and New Zealand until 2001, when he moved to NHS Ayrshire and Arran as a Consultant ENT surgeon, Clinical Director, Associate Medical Director and then Medical Director with NHS Borders before taking his current post of Medical Director at NHS Forth Valley.

Andrew is a founding member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and has led the redesign of a wide range of medical services. He has also developed and implemented new models of care across community and acute hospitals.

Dr David Herron, Professional Lead – GP

David graduated from Manchester in 2002 and has been a GP Partner in a practice in Polmont since 2006. David chair’s NHS Forth Valley’s GP Subcommittee which provides advice on a wide range of issues affecting General Practice. He is also the GP Clinical Lead for the Falkirk Health and Social Care Partnership and is involved in training medical students and GP Trainees and arranging educational events for GPs across Forth Valley.

Gillian Morton, NHS Forth Valley

Gillian is Interim Director of Nursing for NHS Forth Valley. Since qualifying as a nurse in 1984 and a midwife in 1987, Gillian has held a number of senior nursing and midwifery posts including Associate Nurse Director and Chief Midwife. Gillian subsequently became NHS Forth Valley’s Director for Women’s, Children’s and Sexual Health Services. She has also managed a range of other services including, most recently, the development of NHS Forth Valley’s Corporate Programme Management Office which oversees the development and implementation of a range of strategic projects and provides expert guidance and support to staff across the organisation.

A strong clinical leader with both front-line, operational and strategic experience, Gillian has creatively and collaboratively delivered a wide range of changes and improvements in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment. She also has a significant leadership role, nationally and locally, in taking forward Best Start – the Scottish Government’s national plan for Maternity and Neonatal Care.

Gillian’s is passionate about developing people and giving a voice to families who use NHS services. She was awarded an MBE in 2020 for her services to healthcare.

Gail Woodcock, Head of Integration

Gail has over 28 years’ experience working within local authority, community, and health and social care settings. She joins the Partnership from adult social care provider Bon Accord Care, where she had overall responsibility for the delivery of services as Interim Managing Director. Her career also spans significant roles at Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership. Gail is a former chair of the Health and Social Care Scotland Strategic Commissioning Group. She has expertise in managing transformation projects, having established locality working within Aberdeen City and implemented improvement plans covering primary care, mental health, and digital services.

Martin Thom, Head of Integration

Martin has a strong commitment to working in partnership with NHS, voluntary and private sector partners. For over twenty years, he has worked as a practitioner and manager within Social Work and Social Care. His experience spans a range of services covering residential care for adults with learning disabilities, support for people affected by alcohol-related brain injury, criminal justice social work services, and offenders with problem drug use. Prior to joining Falkirk, Martin has held senior roles at Fife Council as Head of Older People Services and for Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council, where he was appointed Head of Community Care – Partnerships.

Lynda Bennie, Head of Clinical Governance

Lynda began her career in 1986 as a radiographer and during her clinical work has undertaken senior and specialist roles within Radiology including clinical teaching, Nuclear Medicine and was the Organisational Development Lead for the implementation of the PACS system in Forth Valley. Lynda has also worked as a lecturer in Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) the remit included Radiography, Risk Management in the NHS and supporting the development of modules, short courses and study days. She was also a visiting lecturer in Queen Margaret University supporting Radiography education. In NHS Forth Valley Lynda has undertaken Clinical Governance roles in Radiology, Laboratories and Women and Children’s departments and in 2010 she became Radiology Department Manager in the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital. In 2013 she became a Service Manager for Orthopaedic, General and Vascular Surgical Services and acute surgical wards. Prior to the Head of Clinical Governance appointment Lynda was Service Manager responsible for Ambulatory and Ageing and Health Services and the acute Ageing and Health wards in FVRH.