Trustees
Pamela Barnes Cert Ed, SKTC Dip, Dip inCou, M.Phil, M.R.S.M. , Chairman
Over 30 years experience of working with children, young people and their families in both health and education in the statutory and voluntary sectors. This has included the setting up of the academic programme for hospital play specialists, part time lecturing posts in hospital play, child development and early years education, over 30 years experience of representing a children's voice on community health councils, health authorities and trusts.
Betty Perry, Vice Chairman
Betty is a retired teacher and enjoyed Action Research projects observing nursery school children. Her previous voluntary work has been as a Trustee of the British Association for Early Childhood Education and their treasurer for five years. She was a founder member of Chelmsford Home Start. She is now a member of the Patient's Council of her local district general hospital and works there to promote Action for Sick Children standards. She represents the voice of parents and children for Action for Sick Children at NICE.
Dr Deepak Kalra MB ChB, DCH, FRCP, FRCPCH, Vice Chairman
Consultant Paediatrician since 1987 at a large District General Hospital, with special interest in children’s cancers and blood disorders. Also been involved in various management roles for the clinical department (including as Clinical Director of Paediatrics for seven years in 1990s) and for the hospital. These have also involved multi-disciplinary working as member or chairman of different committees.
In clinical practice, continue to participate in audit. Also participated in multi-centre trials of new treatments (2001 – ongoing), as the local researcher. Been trained by course attendance in research ethics and methods (2001). Acting (2003 – 4) as advisor to National Children’s Bureau on a research project involving children.
Has been a member of Action for Sick Children since 1989, and then Trustee and Vice Chairman of Trustees since 2001.
John Hendle, Hon treasurer
Peter Sanders, Company Secretary
Peter trained at Rolls Royce and was promoted five times before he left to gain experience of other management roles in other industries. In 1992 he decided to market his experience and he started his own manufacturing consultancy business.
In the mid-nineties he was asked to advise a charity with their strategic planning. Subsequently he realised that other charities could use his business experience and he now volunteers three days a week advising various charities.
He has held a number of Executive and Non-Executive Board positions with many companies and charities. He has led contract negotiations with customers, funding bodies and government departments.
His strengths are focusing on: governance, strategic thinking and maximising services.
Harjodh Singh Gill, Trustee
Hon treasurer 2003-2006 now Director on the board of trustees
Dr Richard Wilson, Trustee
Honorary Consultant Paediatrician, Kingston upon Thames. He trained in London hospitals and Southampton in adult medicine and paediatrics. In 1973 became a single handed consultant at Kingston upon Thames, and Honorary Consultant at Charing Cross Hospital.
He was one of a group which produced 'The Loss of Your Baby', and became adviser to Surrey SANDS. He held a weekly clinic for bereaved parents and a clinic for those having subsequent babies. He has worked extensively in the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths.
He was one of the Professional Advisory Panel of NAWCH, on the national 'Playboard' and the HPSET. At Kingston he built up the Play Specialist Team, created a Paediatric Outreach Nursing Team, and a Child Development Centre with residential facilities. He was a member of the Spastics Society Child Assessment Team. He was Regional Paediatric Adviser to the RCP and RCPCH and Chaired the RCPCH Report on 'Fabricated or Induced Illness'. He founded the journal 'Current Paediatrics' (now Paediatrics and Child Health).
Now retired, he works with bereaved children in Jigsaw 4U. He is a trustee of FSID and Action for Sick Children, and a Patron of NAHPS. In his spare time he likes to travel, paint and spend time with his family and grandchildren.
Carole Myer, Trustee
Carole's interest in improving NHS Maternity Services grew after the birth of her children. It progressed as they grew older, to one centred on NHS provision for sick children as they experienced a number of hospital admissions.
She became a member of London CHC, shortly after they were set up, representing the views of women and children. She then became a member of NAWCH and then Chairman of the Cambridge branch. Carole has been Action for Sick Children's national Chairman from 1994 until 1998. She chaired the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Patient's Group from 2000- 2005.
Over the years she has been a spokesman for the health and welfare needs of children and young people on a number of committees. She currently sits as a lay member on the East Anglia Faculty Board of the RCGP and The Society of Radiographers and attends her local PCT's Patient Focus Group.
Carole also works as a volunteer General Adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau and finds her work very interesting, rewarding and satisfying. She enjoys learning something new at every session and being able to help people find ways to tackle their problems. In her spare time Carole enjoys travelling, going to the theatre, music, books, tennis and badmington.
Jo Thorogood, Trustee
Mo Cartwright, Trustee
Mo has recently retired from teaching. She enjoys a busy retirement looking after 5 Irish Setters, making greetings cards for charity fundraising and skiing.
Dr Andrew Coe, Trustee
Consultant Paediatrician, University Hospital Walsgrove, Coventry.
Margaret Jeal, Trustee
Margaret has over 35 years experience of working with children, their families and carers in the health sector, as a Registered Sick Children's nurse. Finally becoming a modern matron for paediatrics in a large district hospital.
George Meakin MD, DA FRCA, Trustee
Consultant Paediatric Anaesthetist, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital and Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Anaesthesia, University of Manchester. In addition to his clinical and research roles Dr Meakin serves on several national and international bodies concerned with training and standards in children's anaesthesia.
Marcelle de Sousa MBE, RGN, RSCN, BSc, MA,Trustee
Marcelle, who has recently retired, has been a children’s nurse for over 30 years. During which time she has led exciting new developments in children’s renal nursing and in adolescent healthcare. She has published many research papers and written several chapters in textbooks dealing with children’s health. Marcelle has presented at many conferences nationally and internationally. She has been a chair of an RCN forum and member of a council committee and has been involved with several projects at the Department of Health.
