How are we governed?
Our governance structure makes sure the Network runs effectively and efficiently. It is made up of three parts.
1. Host Organisation
2. Steering Group
Elected member representatives who provide strategic leadership. Meet the Steering Group members.
3. Reference and User Groups
Member-led groups that shape our projects and work programme. Find out more.
Vision, values and objectives
Our Vision
Enable members to improve patient outcomes, raise health standards and deliver sustainable quality health and care services through data excellence, benchmarking and the sharing of innovation.
Our values
Excellence
Always striving to be the best we can be, in everything we do.
Our objectives
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Put our members, stakeholders and participants at the heart of who we are, building and maintaining the Network's reputation for excellence.
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Work together, enabling curiosity by ensuring strong connections with and between stakeholders, creating benchmarking communities through education and positive relationships.
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Actively seek to build a sustainable Network through value for money, relevant and meaningful insight and support.
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Provide additional opportunities for members and stakeholders to gain bespoke support and insight into relevant priority areas, building on the core benchmarking programmes.
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Make data validity and reliability the core of our work programmes to support finding the answer to the 'so what' question.
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Maximise project participation and engagement, ensuring that data collections are appropriate and proportionate.
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Develop new solutions by investing in technology to the benefit of all stakeholders.
Respect
Value everyone, acknowledge members' unique experiences, work together to deliver improvement
Integrity
Be transparent, be realistic, be honest
Steering Group
The Steering Group provides strategic leadership and governance for the Network. It brings together elected representatives from each sector, alongside a representative from our host organisation, to make sure the Network is well led, accountable and aligned with members' needs.
Representatives are appointed through a formal election process. The group elects two Co-Chairs and a Treasurer from among its members. Together they guide strategic decisions, represent member organisations, and agree and oversee the member work programme, using regular reports from the Reference and User Groups.
The group meets online three times a year, plus an in-person planning day to agree the work programme and budget for the following membership year.
Meet Our Steering Group Members
Host Organisation - East of England Community Health & Care NHS Trust
Sarah Buchan
Chief Information Officer
East of England Community Health & Care NHS Trust (host organisation)
Acute Sector
Sam Wilde
Co-Chair
Chief Finance Officer
Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Acute Sector
Ben Shaw
Associate Director of Financial Sustainability
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
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Community Sector
Lee Cornell
Associate Director of Planning and Performance
Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Community Sector
Mel Duffy
Director of Community and Primary Care
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Community Sector
Sam Tomlinson
Associate Director of Transformation
Bromley Healthcare CIC
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Mental Health Sector
Philip Murray
Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance and Performance Officer
South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust
Devolved Nations
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Ben Hannan
Director of Service Transformation, Planning and Performance
NHS Lanarkshire
Devolved Nations
Christine Kennedy
Head of Information
Belfast Health & Social Care Trust
Devolved Nations
Greg Bowen
Assistant Director of Finance
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Reference Groups
Our Reference Groups are voluntary groups of member representatives from the acute, community, mental health, learning disability and autism sectors. They help shape our projects and the annual member work programme, and advise the Steering Group on sector priorities.
As a Reference Group member you can propose new topics and metrics, advise on project content and definitions, give feedback from a participant's point of view and help monitor project delivery.
Why get involved?
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Network with peers
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Help shape future projects
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Give direct feedback
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Get early insight into projects and outputs
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Explore new and emerging project areas
Join a Reference Group
We welcome representatives from member organisations in every sector. To join or find out more, contact the lead for your sector.
Acute
Janet Heaton
j.heaton3@nhs.net
Community
Sarah Handby
Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism
Eliie Gosling
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM is held once a year and is open to member organisations only. It is led by the Chair of the Steering Group, held online via Microsoft Teams and usually lasts one hour.
It gives members an overview of the Network's activity and governance over the past year. Standing items are the minutes of the previous AGM, the Chair's report, the work programme report, the membership report and the Treasurer's report.
Some items may need a member vote, such as changes to the Terms of Membership. Each member organisation has one vote, cast by its Named Individual (Membership Owner or authorised deputy).
Steering Group
The Steering Group oversees the Network's work programme and governance on behalf of members. It is made up of representatives from member organisations and meets quarterly. Minutes from recent meetings are published here.
Governance papers
Annual General Meeting
Steering Group
01.10.2026, Annual Planning Day
Next Meeting - 10.12.2026
Earlier minutes are available on request from nhsbn.enquiries@nhs.net
2025/25