HSJ top 50 spot for non-Exec Fatima

One of Sheffield Children’s non-executive directors, Fatima Khan-Shah, has been named as one of the top 50 most influential black, Asian and minority ethnic people in the country in health and care by the Health Service Journal (HSJ).

Fatima, the associate director for long-term conditions and personalisation at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Integrated Care Board, is also a member of the NHS Assembly and the King’s Fund general advisory council, as well as a convenor for the West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership Race Equality Network.

The HSJ’s profile of her said: “Ms Khan-Shah has had a rapidly rising profile over the last few years for her work on patient involvement and the need for carer support. Her experience as a carer herself gives her work added insight, and she is aware of the frustrations many carers feel when dealing with the NHS.”

Fatima was previously lead for the West Yorkshire and Harrogate unpaid carers programme, work which was highly commended in the system-led support for carers category at the 2018 HSJ Awards. Past posts have included as a lay member for local clinical commissioning groups, chair of Healthwatch Kirklees, and a patient and public voice partner with Health Education England.

Fatima said: “I’m shocked but delighted. Not so long ago I was nowhere advocating for people and their carers to be heard and now I’m on a list of influential people. It’s not down to me, but the people who support me and empower me at West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, at Sheffield Children’s, and beyond.”