The Local Advisory Committee reviews issues relating to Healthwatch in detail and makes recommendations regarding this. It plays an important role in overseeing Healthwatch Tower Hamlet's strategic direction, monitoring and advising its progress against its work plan.
Our Chair
We are currently establishing a new Local Advisory Committee and a Chair will be appointed in due course. Please check back at a later date or email the office info@healthwatchtowerhamlets.co.uk for more information.
Our Local Advisory Committee
Ayaan Gulaid
Ayaan is currently a Strategy and Policy Officer at Tower Hamlets Council, Non Executive Director of Tower Hamlets GP Care Group and a Trustee of Sister Circle, a health charity addressing health inequality facing ethnic minority women in Tower Hamlets. Ayaan brings a wealth of passion and experience in local policy making to the committee.
Jessica Chiu
Jessica is a local resident currently working in the digital health field. She has a background as a Clinical Lead of Wheel Chair services and is passionate about supporting positive change in Healthcare.
Saleem Haider
Saleem is an Digital People Participation Lead. He is keen on supporting communities to prepare for the digitalisation of healthcare. Saleem has co-produced a digital inclusion strategy at East London NHS Foundation Trust alongside a digital community, a forum of service users where peoples relationship and reach of digital technologies are discussed.
Christopher Soltysiak
Christopher is an ex Aspiring Director and senior manager from the NHS, working both in commissioning and providing services. He is on the Advisory Group of NEL Cancer Alliance for Users and Carers; he is a Consultant and volunteer for the International Mental Health Charity "The world dignity project" and a local resident. He has a postgraduate degree from London University and has completed senior leadership courses at the Kings Fund and Ashridge Business School. He brings both experience and policy knowledge to the committee.
Sumaya Omar
Sumaya is a resident of Tower Hamlets. She works as a mental HCA in a private hospital specialising in personality disorders and offers DBT interventions. Sumaya is also in her final year of biomedical sciences and currently working on her thesis, which is on the stability of bio-specific antibodies.
Nicola Lawrence
Nicola has worked in the NHS and internationally to develop national policy and to deliver projects to transform systems. She has experience commissioning mental health, learning disability, and autism services, as well as working with a range of stakeholders, carrying out research and analysis, and managing programmes. Nicola is a Tower Hamlets resident and is passionate about public health.
Decision Making Processes
The Local Advisory Committee and staff make collaborative decisions about our work programme and priority areas. These include decisions such as which research studies and Enter & View visits to undertake each year.
Our decision making takes into account a number of factors including:
- issues identified from community feedback and intelligence
- understanding the views of under-represented groups e.g children and young people
- opportunities to make an impact
- alignment with the key priorities of our local authority and NHS partners
- gaps in our current insight and knowledge on an issue/service
- having a balanced work programme with consideration given to both health and social care issues
- wider strategic drivers
The Local Advisory Committee seek to provide full transparency in their decision making. Minutes of meetings can be requested by emailing info@healthwatchtowerhamlets.co.uk.
Each year we will update the website to highlight our key projects and reasons for choosing these priority areas. Please click on the pink 'Find out more' button below to access information about our current projects.
Your Voice in Health and Social Care (YVHSC) holds the contract for Healthwatch Lewisham. Their Board of Directors hold overall governance responsibility for the service. For further information on the Board visit the YVHSC website or email info@yvhsc.org.uk.
