[D]enise Leslie has been appointed to the role of Lay Member for Patient and Public Engagement on the Governing Body for NHS North Cumbria Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
Denise founded a healthcare company nine years ago that delivers community services across Greater Manchester, Wirral, Hull and St Helens. Previously she worked as a secondary school teacher in West Yorkshire and Cumbria.
Denise has a wealth of experience in working with patients and communities and is passionate about equality of health provision, ensuring everyone receives the best care and treatment possible.
Upon the appointment Denise said: “I’m really looking forward to working on the Governing Body and feel that I’ll be able to bring a unique perspective to the role around patient and public engagement.
“I’ve had a lot of experience working with patients and communities and getting them involved in the design of service provision. It’s very much about empowering those service users, working together and involving people in co-production processes.
“I’ve lived in Cumbria for 25 years now and my four children are all born and raised here. It’s a wonderful place with excellent communities and I look forward to working with them as part of my role with the CCG.
“I feel ready for the challenges ahead within the organisation and I really want to ensure that all public and patient’s views and expectations are understood and met as appropriate. I’m also determined to reduce health inequalities, particularly within more deprived communities and rural areas.”
Denise will play a key and active role in the decision making process of the organisation. Members of NHS North Cumbria CCG’s Governing Body share responsibility as part of the team to ensure that the CCG exercises its functions effectively, efficiently, economically, with good governance and in accordance with the terms of the CCG constitution as agreed by its members.
This role was previously filled by Jon Rush who was appointed as the CCG’s Chair of the Governing Body in March this year. The next Governing Body Meeting will take place at 1pm on Wednesday 4 October at Carlisle Race Course, Durdar Road, Carlisle, CA2 4TS
To find out more about Governing Body meetings and view papers visit: www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/gb
To find out more about ‘Co-production’ and the Working Together Steering Group visit: www.northcumbriaccg.nhs.uk/workingtogether