Healthwatch Lancashire is proud to announce the appointment of three new Non-Executive Directors to its board who will be responsible for the management and governance of the organisation.



The appointments of Helen Fairweather, Gail Godson and Paul Howes will add further expertise to an already dedicated board of directors and ensure that Healthwatch Lancashire is fulfilling its legal and statutory obligations as a public voice on health and social care.



Helen Fairweather, from Chorley, has always worked in the voluntary sector, managing a number of EU-funded social mobility projects and in 2007, set up the Greater Manchester Youth Network. Helen is now Office Manager for Lancashire Mind, a mental health charity that focuses on prevention and works to achieve wellbeing for all in Lancashire.



Gail Godson, from Ormskirk, trained locally in Lancashire as a nurse, and has more than 35 years of experience in the health care service, primarily within the NHS as a clinician and Senior Manager. In 2012 Gail and her husband opened a new care company, 'Home Instead Senior Care West Lancashire & Chorley', determined to make a difference locally, offering high quality care services that are based around tailored care plans, respect and dignity.



Paul Howes has worked in the voluntary sector since 2008 in roles including management of community-based services, focusing on building individual and community resilience, and business development. More recently he was a Programme Manager within Oldham Council's public health team and is currently the Business Development Director for n-compass North West, a Lancashire-based health and social care charity, where he leads on the organisation's ambitious plans for growth and increased impact.



Mike Wedgworth, Chair of Healthwatch Lancashire, said: "We are delighted to have appointed three new board members with a vast amount of experience.



"The skills they will add to the board will assist Healthwatch Lancashire to fulfil its role as the public voice for health and social care in Lancashire.



"The Healthwatch Lancashire Board of Directors is deeply committed to improving services in the county and ensuring that people's voices are not only heard, but that they can influence improvements within health and social care services."



To find out more about the Healthwatch Lancashire Board of Directors please visit www.healthwatchlancashire.co.uk/about-us/board-of-directors/.