Patient governors

Patient governors represent the Trust’s patients outside of the Trust constituency. As current and former patients, they share their own experiences of King’s to improve services and patient care.

Deborah Johnston

I am an experienced business professional with a strong interest in medical awareness. Having had three different forms of cancer, I have raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in aid of cancer research.

With a strong belief in patient awareness as a means of assisting diagnosis and coping with the trauma associated with treatment, I am joining the Council of Governors of King’s as a Patient Governor to advance this concept and raise further funds for the Trust.

Devon Masarati

I was born overseas, but was brought up in the UK and was the first member of my family to study at university. A period of research was followed by teaching in the private sector and then moving into the state sector where I gained my GTP and an MA in education.

At my most recent school, I became Head of Department and then Assistant Head with varying responsibilities over the years. These have included safeguarding (I was DSL), health and safety coordinator, first aid coordinator and exams officer. I also had responsibility for teacher training, the induction of new teachers to the school, online learning and producing school policies.

I am a qualified City of Westminster Guide and am currently training as a City of London Guide.

Billie McPartlan

Born in Lewisham Hospital, I have been a local resident all my life, aside from the four years I spent at the University of Manchester, studying Criminology and Social Policy. During this time I also volunteered for Victim Support, an independent charity supporting people affected by crime or trauma.

Since being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2015, I have a particular interest in stem cell, blood, and organ donation. I am also a wheelchair user, following complications from a stem cell transplant.

I am a trustee for a small charity that has previously raised money for the Trust, and is currently focusing on small-scale initiatives benefiting individual patients.

I have received amazing care from King’s and want to use my experience as a patient to help in any way I can.

Fidelia Nimmons

I have a first degree in Economics and a Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Education. I was a teacher for over 25 years in primary schools across south London, including being the head of an extended school. I have also been a lead examiner for test paper markers for the examination boards.

With an interest in community empowerment, my experiences equipped me to set up a tuition centre to raise educational standards for local pupils from underrepresented groups. At the time there were scarce resources for teaching Black and West African history in the British National Curriculum. I published books and websites on The Benin Civilisation to provide essential information on this for schools and others. These are globally used.

Having received excellent care from King’s over many years I want to contribute as a governor, particularly in raising awareness of health needs of patients from all backgrounds.

Chris Symonds

I live in Swanley and have more than 30 years’ management experience as a civil engineer, supported by an MBA and related professional qualifications. Recently retired, I am a long-term patient at King’s as a kidney transplant patient.

I have used many of the services provided by the Trust including the satellite sites the Trust supports. As I am not local to the Trust’s hospitals, I am also dependent upon the on-site facilities during my appointments, for example, parking, waiting areas etc.

I currently support the Patient Reading Group, and with a personal interest in the performance of the Trust, I hope my general management skills will be of benefit.

David Tyler

I live with my family in Sevenoaks. My professional background is in banking and consultancy and I am involved as a governor at my children’s school and as Treasurer of a Christian charity, as well as being a governor of King’s College Hospital Trust.

I wanted to contribute to the work at King’s following the care provided to a number of members of my family in recent years, including cancer treatment and neurosurgery. My particular interest is in quality and I aim to focus on what quality means for King’s patients and how that is being managed and improved.

Dr Adrian Winbow

I have been a consultant psychiatrist for over 35 years both in the NHS and in private practice. I first became a consultant in the NHS in 1978 with the North East Thames Regional Authority working mainly in Essex until 1986, when I made the move to private practice as medical director within the Priory and Cygnet Groups. I then went on to found my own private practice, Private Psychiatry based in Kent in 2008.

I am a former member of the General Medical Council’s panel of Psychiatric Examiners and Assessors and I have sat on Fitness to Practice Panels as a Specialist Advisor, as well as being a Specialist Advisor for the Care Quality Commission for several years. I was also Medical Advisor for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales and Clinical Advisor at the General Pharmaceutical Council.

Having spent many years treating patients, I recently retired from private practice and I am now looking forward to the new challenges ahead in my role as Governor at King’s.

Contact us

To contact a governor please email [email protected]