Our Chair, Vanessa Barrett
For over 40 years, Vanessa worked as a clinician and in senior management roles in many different NHS organisations, as well as with the Department of Health. She has a passion for improving the quality of care experienced by patients. Vanessa has lived in Bridgnorth since 1991.
Our Board
Rich Amos
Rich Amos has been a volunteer for Healthwatch Shropshire since 2021. He sits on the Engagement and Marketing committee and is a trained Authorised Representative undertaking E&V visits. Rich is a trustee for various Boards including Community Resource. He has experience working as an advocate for other people with disabilities and is really interested in empowering people to have their voices heard and removing possible barriers to this.
David Crane
Dave joined us from the private sector, with over 20 years experience in outsourcing, most recently as Hewlett Packard’s head of innovation. He is also a director of a cancer research charity. Dave has lived in the Shropshire hills since 1997.
Meskerem Kassa
I have been volunteering for HWS since early 2024. My professional background is in Public Health and Medical Laboratory Science. I am involved with local authorities in Place-based Joint Strategic Needs Assessments, supporting evidence based decisions making to identify and address the health and well being needs of our local population. I'm a trained authorised representative of HWS to conduct Enter & View visits.
Steve Price
Steve has been a volunteer with Healthwatch Shropshire since 2014. He spent his professional life in the field of Public Health. His role for the majority of that time was as liaison officer between the Local Authority and the Health Authority, as it was then known.
Daphne Simmons
Daphne worked for almost 20 years for a long established local charity supporting individuals and groups in our sparsely populated rural county. In the role head of services she has enabled communities to be well informed and connected on a range of matters such as preventative health issues, fuel poverty, and rural isolation while supporting the development of community groups. Experienced in staff and volunteer recruitment, support and management enabling them to express their voices in an appropriate way.
David Voysey
David was a civil servant in welfare departments for 32 years. For several years he was a Regional Manager in a Special Health Authority. Since the 1970s he has been involved in local community affairs including being a Parish and District Councillor. His other voluntary activities include being a member and Chairman of Alveley Village Hall’s Management Committee, a previous Trustee for the Community Council of Shropshire and as a leisure pleasure, he plays boules and is Chairman of the Severn Valley Petanque League.
Bob Welch
Bob worked as a social worker becoming District Director of Adult Social Services in Birmingham before moving to the Social Services Inspectorate of the Department of Health. He has since worked as a an Independent Social Care Consultant. For the last 9 years, he has served on Church Stretton Town Council; for 6 years chairing the local Health & Social Care Partnership.
Anne Wignall
Anne was an English teacher before joining the charity sector as a campaigner and education specialist. She has been a Board member of several national and international charities including Cruse and the RSPCA. She works with a number of local charities and other organisations and is currently Deputy Mayor of Ellesmere.
Board Meetings
All of our board meetings are held in public. You would be very welcome if you would like to come along.
Past Board papers
We make the papers for our public Board meetings available online. We also publish a summary of what was discussed. Check out our past meetings to read more.
