What is your name?
Steve How
Are you a public, staff or Partner Governor?
Public Governor in the County (Newark and Sherwood) Constituency
How long have you been a Governor at Nottinghamshire Healthcare
NHS Foundation Trust?
Almost 8 years
What do you do in your role of Governor?
I would like to think I support the trust in delivering quality care for patients and carers, within Nottinghamshire. Essentially as a governor we look at what the trust SAYS its going to do and how it’s doing and compare that with what we hear from our network of contacts -patients and carers. If what we hear from the trust is significantly different from what we here from patients we can raise it as a concern for enquiry or development. Similarly if we hear great reports we can feed this back. The other role is as an ambassador to the trust to engage with the public on behalf and with the interests of the trust.
Why did you choose to put yourself up for election?
I believe that we (as patients and carers) should be engaged in developing our NHS services as we understand, first hand, our needs from the service, and by working with our healthcare providers we can help the NHS in achieving more effective and efficient care for everyone.
Describe what you do in 100 words or less.
Outside being a governor I work for a healthcare information company providing news and insight on the implications of NHS service and policy changes to The NHS, Charities and Industry. I have 4 wonderful kids and 4 grandchildren who have all depended on healthcare services at some point.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Currently I enjoy supporting partnership working between multiple NHS and healthcare organisations and the public. Assuring that the patients and carers have joined up continuous care through their health journey. I am enthusiastic about the new integrated approaches the healthcare organisations in Nottingham are developing, and honestly believe it will lead to better health care, and am involved with the Citizens Council of the Better Together alliance between the hospital trusts, GP’s, Community and mental health and ambulance services in Mid Notts
What three words would you use to describe the NHS?
Ours, Stretched, Committed
If you could give the NHS any 70th birthday present what would it be?
Our (public) ownership of our health, as well as our health service
What advice would you give to someone who was thinking about becoming a Governor at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust?
Everyone uses health services, if you are interested in supporting better care this is a great place to start. The key to being a governor is to always be willing to ask a question!
Follow our countdown to the NHS’s 70th birthday as we post a blog a day.