From Submarines to Select Committees – Meet Governor Ruth Marsden

Read our sixth Governor profile as part of our monthly Humber Happenings Newsletter, this month, we take a look at Ruth Marsden, and how one of our Governors for the East Riding of Yorkshire, has gone from Submarines to Select Committees.

Can you tell us a bit about your background please and how this led to you becoming a Governor?

"My family background was military, my professional background was engineering, with a particular interest in nuclear propulsion for submarines. On leaving this work, I moved to radiology where I led on patient liaison for ten years. This began a long tenure of connection with the NHS.

I have had a wide variety of roles, such as a peer reviewer for the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), working in specialised commissioning and collaborating with the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) on the algorithm for gallstones’ treatment. I was a lay member of Social Care Inspection for Adult Services and later served on the Safeguarding Board for Adults, I was then for several years a trainer for NHS Leadership Academy’s ‘Nye Bevan’ programme."

Ruth's vast experience working alongside the NHS then lead to her inevitably seeking to help further and ensure the public had more involvement in the NHS and the care they receive, this is one of the reasons Ruth became a Governor here at Humber Trust. 

What appointments and experiences have you had that you felt was necessary to bring to this role?

"My national work included being a member of the Department of Health’s Healthwatch Advisory Group for the 2012 Health and Social Care Act and Chair of the Department of Health Sub Group for Transition to Healthwatch.

I have been invited to provide written and oral evidence to Parliament, eg:

- Health Select Committee (x 3).

- All Party Parliamentary Group on Patient and Public Involvement.

- House of Lords EU Committee regarding free movement of healthcare professionals throughout Europe.

Additionally, I have contributed to Westminster Briefings on legislation and amendments to legislation. I have undertaken extensive media work with General Pharmaceutical Council, medical trade press, Channel 4 TV, regional press, local radio and television and written articles for the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain (ASGBI), Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Hospital Doctor and Nursing Management among other publications. 

Further, I have been a presenter at national conferences, such as:Primary Care Commissioning, British Medical Ultrasound Society, UK Radiological Congress, RCN, National Pensioners Convention, and I chaired the conference of Allied Health Professionals for several years.

I have heard you have offered support to some of those in HMP Hull too?

Yes, in 2004, I helped found a national charity for health and social care and I remain the Vice Chair. More recently I have developed links with Secure Services and have been deployed for several years at HMP Hull where I lead the team of Official Prison Visitors. I serve on the National Executive of the National Association of Official Prison Visitors (NAOPV)."

Official Prison Visitors provide an invaluable contribution in befriending prisoners during their time in custody, in what can be a very challenging time in their lives, you can find out more about them here.

What are your hobbies and personal interests?

"In what free time I have, I am a published short-story writer and poet and a very keen gardener. I am a serial adopter of ancient and unwanted terriers, and currently caring for my fifth."

Thanks to Ruth for allowing us to gain a greater insight into her life and what led her to becoming a Governor. To read more of our Governor profiles, click here.