The Patients Association, a leading independent charity campaigning for improvements in health and social care for patients, has announced the appointment of two new trustees, Professor Alf Collins and Tom Grinyer.
Their extensive experience and commitment to enhancing patient-centred care will play a crucial role in advancing the charity's goal of ensuring everybody can access and benefit from the health and care they need to live well, by ensuring services are designed and delivered through equal partnership with patients.
Julie Thallon, Chair of the Board of Trustees, said: "I welcome Alf and Tom to our Board, and know their support and insights will be vital in the Patients Association’s work and achieving our goal of patient partnership.”
Professor Alf Collins is a renowned health consultant and internationally respected authority on person-centred care. As NHS England’s National Clinical Director for personalised care from 2016 to 2023, Alf spearheaded the implementation of Universal Personalised Care, a key component of the NHS's 2019 Long Term Plan. His work in shared decision making, care planning, and health literacy has positioned him as a leader in healthcare innovation.
In addition to his clinical expertise, Alf has held senior leadership roles in primary care and has significantly contributed to applied research and implementation programmes with the Health Foundation. He holds honorary fellowships from the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of General Practitioners and serves as a Visiting Professor in Healthcare Policy at Coventry University.
Tom Grinyer currently serves as Group Chief Executive Officer for the Institute of Physics. Tom has more than 25 years of leadership experience in membership organisations, He was Group Chief Executive at the BMA during the COVID-19 pandemic, guiding the union through the national health emergency.
He has held transformative leadership roles at the Royal College of Anaesthetists and the Royal College of Physicians, where he was instrumental in introducing the first-ever strategy in the organisation's 500-year history.
Rachel Power, Chief Executive of the Patients Association, said: “I welcome these accomplished leaders to our Board. Their insights and strategic expertise will be invaluable as the charity continues to champion patient priorities and work to ensure services are designed and delivered in partnership with patients.”
Alf said: “Having a strong voice to speak up for patients at a national level is critically important given the crisis in the NHS and the challenges so many people face in accessing the care they need. I am delighted to join the Patients Association’s Board of Trustees to help contribute to their work on behalf of the UK’s patients.”
Tom said: “Having worked in the health sector for well over a decade, leading high profile doctors’ membership organisations, it is a privilege to be able to bring that knowledge to the Patients Association. At the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Anaesthetists and the BMA, I’ve seen firsthand what a vital role patients’ groups have to play and I am delighted to support the Patients Association’s critical work to ensure the patient voice is heard.”
The Patients Association is an independent charity campaigning for improvements in health and social care for patients. We work directly with patients who are our members and supporters, providing help and information through our helpline to thousands of people each year. We ensure the patient voice is heard by government, the NHS, and other stakeholders, advocating for patient-centred service design and delivery.
