Current Role in SHA
I joined the SHA 27 years ago, always in SHA Cymru/Wales, of which I have been chair and CC delegate since 2012. For the last year I have been a vice chair of CC.
Employment History
I began working for the NHS in South Wales in 1977 as an auxiliary nurse, and became active in NUPE, latterly UNISON, as a shop steward. I was a registered nurse in various hospital settings, including 2 years in the Sudan. Then, qualifying as a midwife, I was based in hospital and community, and taught women’s health. From 1996 I worked as a midwifery lecturer at Swansea University until 2011. I now do no paid work, and am a retired member of UNISON.
Views on Policy Direction of SHA
I believe in the NHS having the structures that will enable it to retain its principles. In practice this means there should be an integrated, planned service with no internal market and minimal private sector involvement, in the whole UK. The SHA took an important step forward with the SHA inspired motion passed at the UK Labour Party’s 2017 Conference, and I wish to continue this work. I am particularly interested in health inequalities and public health and would argue that Labour governments must address the structural determinants of people’s health, like the accessibility of healthy food for those on low incomes.
The SHA must increase membership, focusing on gaining younger members and others from groups that currently are underrepresented, namely women, BAME people, the LGBT community and people with disabilities, as well as different health care professionals. I have worked with our secretary, Jean Hardiman-Smith, to develop the participation of women members in the SHA and policies of particular importance to women. Therefore we are devising an SHA vision for maternity services, in collaboration with midwifery and user experts.
Relevant experience
Professionally I pursued an interest in antenatal education and nutrition. In the 1990s I served on two nursing and midwifery statutory bodies, the Welsh National Board and the UKCC. I was chair of the UKCC midwifery committee.
A longstanding Labour Party member, I am the SHA delegate to the Welsh Labour Policy Forum, and SHA delegate and Women’s Officer in Cardiff West Constituency. As the latter I campaign on decriminalisation of abortion and period poverty.