Staff
Diana Blackmun
Diana is the Chief Executive Officer of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Diana began her career working for the Civil Service at The Patent Office in London. Before progressing to the General Medical Council, she worked within a team interviewing foreign doctors and processing applications to qualify for work in the UK.
Debbie Jacobs
Debbie has over 10 years’ experience in marketing and communications within the mental healthcare sector. She has a passion for creative design and was the lead designer at Partnerships in Care, an independent mental healthcare provider, for a 20 strong in-house marketing and sales team with 70+ hospitals requiring rapid turnaround of designs for both external and internal communications.
Joanna Zaworska
With many years of experience in administration and customer service, Joanna has worked in property management, recruitment and dental reception. Originally from Poland and living in the UK for 14 years, Joanna ensures that office operations are run smoothly and excellent customer service is maintained.
Anna Bailie
Anna is currently a PhD Student at the University of York working with young adults, mental health experts and charity and local organisations who work with young people. Her thesis looks at the political project of young adult’s mental health and social media. She was a recipient of the White Rose Doctoral Training Partnership Scholarship in 2018 (ESRC 1+3).
Vicky Davies
Vicky comes from a family of medical professionals, and has previously volunteered for the charity Breast Cancer Now, in various engagement capacities. She has also participated in a Listening Support Service for the Primrose Unit at Bedford Hospital.
Annette Brown
Annette is the newly appointed Project Lead for HWCB. Some of you may recognise her as the previous Engagement & Volunteer Officer for HWCB.
Nicola Kidby
Having volunteered with HWCB for 8 years, Nicola joined the team in February 2024 to oversee all our financial matters.
Board
Gill Hiscox
Gill is Chair and a Director of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Gill has a wealth of experience and local knowledge about health care systems and providers. She has worked within the NHS in Bedfordshire for over 50 years, initially in Human Resources with the local Health Authority, and then moved into Primary Care where she has been for the last 25 years.
Linda Grant
Linda is a Director of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire and Vice Chair
Linda has been a Volunteer and Director of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire since 2013 and in 2023 she became Vice Chair. She joined as she was very disillusioned with the Mental Health service in Central Bedfordshire and wanted to make a difference. Linda is a champion for Mental Health.
Louise Cole
Louise is a Director of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Louise began her career as a physiotherapist but following a serious car accident at the age of 19, which left her with a life changing disability, her career path altered and Louise started working in insurance where she managed a large insurance company in Bedfordshire. However, as her disability worsened, she needed to change her career once again and started her NHS journey 10 years ago.
Vanessa Filmer
Vanessa is a Director of Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire
Vanessa is a regional quality manager for a large private mental health provider with a deep-rooted passion for enhancing care services.
Vanessa started her career as a GP receptionist in Barton-le-Clay. The front-line experience allowed Vanessa to witness the challenges and complexities patients and healthcare providers face.