Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Alison Hughes

Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications

Alison also provides advice and regulatory guidance to Councils of Governors. Alison previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and brings a sound understanding and almost 10 years’ experience working in the commercial healthcare sector. Alison was appointed to the position of Joint Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications in November 2025 for both WCHC and WUTH.

Christine Douglas MBE

Chief Nursing Officer

Christine received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honour’s list in 2021 in recognition of her services to healthcare and was also awarded the prestigious Queen’s Nurse honour in December 2023.

Dr Joanne Chwalko

Chief Integration and Partnerships Officer

Jo is a registered nurse with extensive clinical and operational experience, beginning her career in the acute sector with a focus on women’s health. She has held leadership roles across nursing, therapies, social care, and children’s services within community services, built on experience spanning frontline practice and senior operational leadership. Jo has significant experience in system collaboration and has led a range of integration programmes across Wirral. Jo completed her Professional Doctorate in Health and Social Care in 2019. She is a Queen’s Nurse and a registered Health Visitor, and has previously served as a specialist advisor to the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Dr Nicola Stevenson

Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive

Gareth Robinson

Director of Transformation and Turnaround

Hayley Kendall

Executive Managing Director

Hayley was also Chief Operating Officer at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (LHCH). Prior to the role at LHCH, Hayley was Divisional Head of Operations for Surgery and Clinical Services at LHCH, having joined the Trust from WUTH in June 2015, where she served as Deputy Divisional Director. Hayley also spent 12 years at the Countess of Chester Hospital in a broad range of operational management roles.

Jenny Grant

Chief People Officer

Mark Chidgey

Chief Finance Officer

A qualified accountant and graduate of the University of York, Mark has worked in the NHS since 1990 and has extensive experience across both acute and commissioning sectors. He has worked at board level for more than a decade, predominantly in finance leadership roles, with previous portfolios also covering Quality, Safeguarding, Commissioning and Performance. Mark brings significant experience of partnership working across health and care systems and has contributed at a national level to the development and implementation of payment systems and outcomes frameworks for population health.

Matthew Swanborough

Chief Strategy Officer

Haris Sultan

Joint Non-Executive Director

Lesley Davies

Joint Non-Executive Director and Joint Deputy Chair

Lisa Greenhalgh

Joint Non-Executive Director

Lisa joined Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC) and Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) as Joint Non-Executive Director in January 2026. Lisa is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants who has worked in both the public, private and not for profit sectors for over 30 years both in the UK and Northern Europe. Lisa is now a portfolio FD/NED, currently serving as Non-Executive Director and Chair of Remuneration & Nominations for Torus Housing Association, alongside NED and committee roles supporting innovation at Innovate UK and various SME businesses. In her executive roles Lisa was the former CEO and Finance Director of MSIF/Alliance Fund Managers, leading over £180m of SME investment and creating a self-sustaining legacy fund and as a non-executive was previously Vice Chair, Chair of Audit & Risk, and Chair of Remuneration and Nominations for 10 years at Edge Hill University. Recognised for combining commercial and financial expertise with strong governance, strategic challenge, and pragmatic delivery. Proven record in driving performance improvement, supporting restructuring, fundraising and exit processes, and strengthening board effectiveness and diversity.

Meredydd David

Joint Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director (SID)

Meredydd was appointed Joint Non-Executive Director for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) and Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC) in July 2025. Meredydd is also the Senior Independent Director (SID) for WUTH and WCHC. Previous to this, Meredydd held the position of Non-Executive Director at WCHC since July 2024. He has over 25 years senior leadership experience in the further and higher education sector with 14 years as Principal and Chief Executive of Reaseheath College, near Nantwich. He has been a board member and also Chair of numerous national education, quality, and education strategy organisations during his career. Meredydd was awarded an OBE for Services to Education in 2009 and was appointed as Deputy Lieutenant for Cheshire in 2017. For the past six years he has been a Further Education Commissioner for England, a Ministerial appointment supporting quality and financial improvement across the sector. Meredydd has previously served as Chair and President of the University of Chester Board of Governors and is currently Chair of the Board of Governors at Furness College in Cumbria.

Professor Chris Bentley

Joint Non Executive Director

Steve Ryan

Joint Non-Executive Director

Steve was appointed Joint Non-Executive Director for Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (WUTH) and Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust (WCHC) in November 2025. Previous to this, Steve held the position of Non-Executive Director at WUTH since 2021. Steve Ryan held the post of Consultant Paediatrician and specialised mainly in general paediatrics but included specialty work in his clinical career. He spent some time in academic practice - his main research interests being in nutrition of premature babies and headaches in children. Steve has over 12 years of experience as an Executive Medical Director in Merseyside at Alder Hey and in London at Barts Health. He undertook a range of regional strategic roles in the North West and London including being the Clinical Chair of the NHS Next Stage ("Darzi") review in the North West 2008. Whilst in London he provided leadership in the transformation of young people's mental health services and in the reconfiguration of cancer and cardiac services.