The Acute Network advisory board and staff team

We provide support and a voice for acute trusts, integrated providers and ambulance services, supporting your leadership role at place and in systems.

We provide support and a voice for acute trusts, integrated providers and ambulance services, supporting your leadership role at place and in systems.

Our network team is supported by experts working across the NHS Confederation’s policy, communications and media teams.

Our advisory board

In May 2025 we formed a new advisory board led by the NHS Confederation's vice-chair 'Foluke Ajayi. The first meeting took place the same month, with quarterly meetings set to follow.

Our members have a strong voice in all we do, and the advisory group provides top-level strategic direction to the planning of our work, highlighting emerging issues where the network and the wider NHS Confederation can deliver the most impact on behalf of members.

'Foluke Ajayi

Vice-chair, NHS Confederation, and CEO, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

'Foluke Ajayi is vice-chair of the NHS Confederation and chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Professor Phil Wood

Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Phil Wood is chief executive of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Alex Whitfield

Chief Executive, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Alex Whitfield is chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Stacey Hunter

Group Chief Executive, University Hospitals Tees

Stacey Hunter is group chief executive of University Hospitals Tees.

Peter Lewis

Chief Executive, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Peter Lewis is chief executive of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust.

Matthew Kershaw

Chief Executive, Croydon Health Services NHS Trust

Matthew Kershaw is chief executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust.

Thomas Lafferty

Chief Executive, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Thomas Lafferty is chief executive of Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust.

Joe Chadwick-Bell

Chief Executive, Royal Wolverhampton and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trusts

Joe Chadwick-Bell is group chief executive of Royal Wolverhampton and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trusts.

Richard Mitchell

Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Leicester and Northamptonshire

Richard Mitchell is group chief executive of University Hospitals of Leicester and Northamptonshire.

Dr George Findlay

Chief Executive, University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust

Dr George Findlay is chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Penny Emerit

Chief Executive, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust

Penny Emerit is chief executive of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

Cara Charles-Barks

Group Chief Executive of Bath, Salisbury and Great Western NHS Trusts

Cara Charles-Barks is group chief executive of Bath, Salisbury and Great Western NHS Trusts.

Silas Nicholls

Chief Executive, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Silas Nicholls is chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Meet the team

Rory Deighton

Director, Acute Network

Rory is our director of acute, emergency and community care, leading the Acute Network.

Sonia Nosheen

Assistant Director, Acute Network

Sonia is Assistant Director for the Acute Network.

Emma Fulton

Senior Policy and Delivery Manager, Acute Network

Emma Fulton is Senior Policy and Delivery Manager for our Acute Network.

Jack Sansum

Senior Policy Advisor

Jack is Senior Policy Advisor for our Acute and Community Networks.

Antony Tucker

Policy and Engagement Advisor, Out of Hospital Care

Antony is policy and engagement advisor for out-of-hospital care.

Vanessa Sampson

Senior Member Engagement Officer

Vanessa is senior member engagement officer for our Acute Network.

Theo Gallagher

Senior Member Engagement Officer

Theo Gallagher is senior member engagement officer for our Acute Network.

Ben Charman

Communications Manager

Ben is Communications Manager for both our Mental Health Network and Acute Network.

Miros Saridakis

Senior Project Coordinator (Evolve Collaborative)

Miros is Senior Project Coordinator (Evolve Collaborative) for our Acute Network.

John Bellerby

Senior Improvement Specialist (Evolve Collaborative)

John is a Senior Improvement Specialist working within our Acute Network.

Beata Wojcik

Senior Improvement Specialist (Evolve Collaborative)

Beata is a Senior Improvement Specialist working within our Acute Network.