Our Panel

What does our Panel do?

We are currently building a new Healthwatch Wolverhampton Panel (formerly known as the Board). Our Panel will provide direction, oversight, scrutiny, and they will support our workplan.

Panel members will be representatives from a wide range of community and voluntary organisations. The blend of organisations on our Panel will be designed to give voice and influence to the diverse communities of Wolverhampton so that we can better serve our community.  The blend and number of organisations who sit on our Panel may change over time to reflect the needs and demographics of the population and with particular regard to health inequalities. 

Co-Chair: Suffia Perveen

Suffia’s passion and experience align well with Healthwatch's vision. With over two decades of experience in community engagement, equalities, and infrastructure, she is excited to bring her skills to lead and guide the Community Panel. Suffia’s aim is to ensure it becomes a strong voice for our diverse communities and for it to play a key role in improving local services. 

Suffia has extensive experience in the VCSE and as the lead and Chair for the Wolverhampton Equality & Diversity Partnership, she has overseen significant growth, promoting active engagement across all nine protected characteristics. Suffia aims to drive positive change in healthcare services through inclusive dialogue and higher standards of care and support within our community. She will be approaching the work of this Panel with a focus on proactive engagement, facilitation for community involvement, and collaboration. Suffia is a hands-on person who has been active in stakeholders engagement, networking, setting strategic plans and working at grassroot levels. Her involvement in various health-related initiatives and boards has given her a deep understanding of health and social care systems. Her commitment to excellence, coupled with respect for policies and codes of conduct, aligns with the values of Healthwatch Wolverhampton. 

Suffia is thrilled and enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to our crucial mission and we look forward to working with her and eager to see how her dynamic leadership, communication skills, and organizational skills will foster a positive culture within the Panel and support our service to have impact in greater detail.

Co-Chair: Mandy Poonia

Mandy brings incredible skills in leadership and vast experience in healthcare and the voluntary sector who has operated at strategic levels within several healthcare trusts. With approximately 20 years of working in mental health services, Mandy has a vast understanding of mental health challenges within our local communities and the constraints in accessing services.

Some of Mandy’s previous experiences included been a non-executive director with Dudley and Walsall Mental Health Trust and serving on National Boards. She has chaired several high-profile committees, including the Mental Health Act Scrutiny Committee. She is passionate about listening to the perspectives of user experiences, in order to improve services for users and to influence and improve national service provision. Previously as Chair of Healthwatch Walsall, Mandy served and represented Healthwatch on the Local Authority Health and Wellbeing Board and the Overview Scrutiny Committee. She also serves as a Magistrate.

As Chair for Healthwatch Wolverhampton, Mandy will combine strategic and meticulous thinking to focus on our purpose, vision, values. She is very much looking forward to developing positive relationships and fostering engagement at all levels in Wolverhampton, ensuring the voices and experience of our local citizens are heard, with the intention of working collaboratively with stakeholders in order to improve health and social care outcomes for people.

Read the Healthwatch Decision Making Policy & Procedure to find out how our annual priorities are agreed and set.