We are pleased to welcome Murray MacDonald, Oliver Newbould and Ballu Patel to East Midlands Ambulance Service as our new Non-Executive and Associate Non-Executive Directors.
Murray, our new Non-Executive Director (NED) has taken up the role of the outgoing Will Pope and over the last decade, has worked as a Non-Executive Director for a number of NHS organisations including provider trusts and a CCG, chairing committees and acting as Vice Chair of the board.
During his career, Murray has worked in both commercial and not-for-profit sectors before finding his calling in social housing. For the past 20 years he has worked with several Housing Associations at Executive Director level, including most recently as Chief Executive.
Murray is looking forward to developing his understanding of the ambulance service and being a part of EMAS.
He said: “I am delighted to be joining EMAS and working with such skilled and committed people across the organisation.
“At a time when the NHS is under such significant pressure, I look forward to working with colleagues across EMAS to sustain and develop our services.
“I am keen to meet colleagues from all areas to listen to experiences of what works and learn about those things we can do to improve our services to the public.”
Joining Murray are our two new Associate Non-Executive Directors, Oliver Newbould and Ballu Patel.
Before retirement in 2023, Oliver led NHS England’s Intensive Support Team in the Midlands region and worked with organisations facing the most challenging governance and quality issues. Prior to this, Oliver was the Chief Officer of Nottingham West CCG and worked as Commissioning and Strategy Director in a number of Primary Care Trusts across Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
He originally joined the NHS in 1992 as a management trainee and spent the early part of his career in the acute hospital sector in the Midlands and the North West.
Oliver said:
“It feels great to join EMAS and I am genuinely excited to begin a totally new role as an Associate Director.
“I feel privileged to be part of an organisation that works across the East Midlands and plays such a key part in so many people’s care pathway, and I very much look forward to meeting more of the team.”
Ballu has experience and skills in strategic management, governance, and community regeneration derived from voluntary roles, including serving as a Non-Executive Director at the University Hospitals of Leicester, Associate NED at Kettering General Hospital and Chair of Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket Foundation.
During his role at the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), Ballu gained valuable insights and experience in supporting individuals with disabilities, including those from diverse ethnic communities and various socio-economic backgrounds.
Ballu has severed on various committees including the Policy Action Team with the Cabinet Office, Social Inclusion Unit.
He said:
“I will be bringing a wealth of strategic management and leadership skills to the associate role and my commitment to making a positive difference underscores my passion for community-driven initiatives.”
As we welcome the new directors to the trust, we would like to thank former Non-Executive Director Will Pope, for his contributions to EMAS since joining in 2016.
Karen Tomlinson, Chairman at East Midlands Ambulance Service said:
“I would like to thank Will for his service and commitment to EMAS through his role as a Non-Executive Director over the last seven years.
“Will has been an important member of the Non-Executive team, supporting EMAS in achieving its Big 3 vision and to provide the best care possible for patients.
“Everyone at EMAS would like to wish Will well for the future."