SHA Officers
- Chair Dr Rathi Guhadasan
- Secretary Lesley Spillard
- Treasurer Esther Giles
SHA Vice Chairs
- Emine Ibrahim
- Andrew Collins
- Barbara Roberts
- Rachel Garnham
National Central Council Members:
Glenda O’Brien
Pat Quigley
Terry Harper
Mads Wainman
Adrian Scandrett
Matthew White
Dr Brian Gibbons
Dr Hasnain Khan
Pam Wortley
Julius Marstrand
Harry Stratton
Stephen Fairfax
Caroline Bedale
Judith Varley
Sharon Noonan-Gunning
Election Statements Directors 2026
Dr. Rathi Guhadasan MBBS MRCPCH MSC DTM&H
I joined SHA’s Central Council in 2023, became a Vice-Chair in September 2023 and served as Chair for the past year. In the last two years, I have led policy working groups such as Maternal and Child Health, International Health and Food Security, represented our core policy interests in external meetings and forums, organised meetings, given talks to members or branches and externally and produced flyers and various written pieces on behalf of SHA. This year I also led on the organising and coordinating of our activities at the annual Labour Party Conference and TUC Congress. A full report of my work at and reflections from Labour Conference is linked here. I set up and support production of a regular newsletter to members and fulfil various administrative duties as required of officers. My background is in health – including working as a paediatrician for almost thirty years’ – ten in low-resource settings – and a MSc in Public Health in Developing Countries. My NHS career was split between London, the South-East and Liverpool. I then moved into the humanitarian sector and now work on global health policy. I have a strong understanding of both frontline service delivery and national health policy; and am passionate about tackling racism and health inequalities in the NHS and internationally. As an informal carer, I understand the immense challenges facing those who are cared for and their carers – all of whom need to see urgent systematic change. I have seen the impact that chronic underfunding, outsourcing and influx of the private sector has had on the quality of patient care, and am committed to campaigning for a fully restored, fully publicly provided and publicly funded NHS. If elected, I will work with branches, members and partners to advance our policy agenda.
Lesley Spillard
Eighteen months into a Labour Government it is difficult to maintain the hope and optimism felt in July 2024. The privatisation of the NHS continues whilst around us mental health services are failing and the knock on effect is felt across communities. Local government funding cuts impact on social care and children’s services and charities are trying to pick up the pieces. Meanwhile junior doctors saddled with crippling student loans are striking against pay awards which fail to compensate for years of pay falling in real terms and the government is introducing a new version PFI despite the negative impact trusts are still paying for 30 years later. At this time a campaigning SHA has never been more relevant, we are fortunate our members and officers have a vast range of knowledge and experience which ensures we make our voices heard both in and out of the Labour Party. If re-elected as one of the Vice Chairs I will continue to work for a publicly funded and publicly provided NHS, attend and contribute to meetings and support other members.
Esther Giles MA MSC CPFA
For a Publicly owned and Provided NHS: I joined the NHS in 1981, trained as a public finance professional and worked as finance director in many parts of the NHS, most recently in the South Region as finance director for specialised services. I joined the SHA because I support its objective that we return to a publicly owned and provided-and properly resourced- NHS. We need the internal market removed, the NHS restored to public ownership, and properly resourced on the front-line and in its support services. I’m standing to be treasurer of the SHA because I’m qualified and politically motivated to deliver the role to the highest professional standard for the service of the membership. Were I to be re-elected Treasurer, I would continue to work with other elected officers to ensure that the SHA is run to high standards of governance, transparency and accountability. I will continue to work with Officers and Members to continue our Campaign work for the NHS. Please contact me to tell me what you require of your treasurer. I look forward to working with you and for our NHS.
Emine Ibrahim
I am seeking your support to serve as one of the Vice Chairs of The Socialist Health Association. I believe firmly in public services. My professional background demonstrates my dedication to public services. I started in the voluntary sector, then into local government. I now represent as a trade union activist the people who deliver those services that me and my family benefited from and gave me the opportunity to thrive. I am deeply opposed to the marketisation of the NHS and the creeping involvement of the private sector. I would like to support the SHA to campaign for the reversal of privatisation and the removal of the profit motive from the NHS. I have been an active member of the Labour Party in Haringey for 16 years. I am currently a Labour Councillor and previously served as Deputy Leader of Haringey Council. I previously sat on London Regional Executive for many years as well as the National Constitutional Committee which I also chaired for 1 year.If you support me I will do my utmost to help build a strong democratically functioning, campaigning and well resourced Socialist Health Association.
Andrew Collins
I am standing to be one of the Socialist Health Association Vice Chairs to help shape Labour health policy and in particular to reverse decades of damaging privatisation. Furthermore, I would improve union and grassroots engagement by linking SHA up with community health campaigns. As a councillor, I am acutely aware that austerity has harmed our residents and we must push for better access to a fully funded public health system which restores and expands the original Bevanite vision of universal healthcare. If elected, I would apply my experience to the role and campaign for Labour to reject PFI/other corporate models to deliver the funding needed to revitalise our NHS. Labour in power is always at its best when it restores the principle of health as not for profit but a human right. A vote for me is a vote for these core principles.
Barbara Roberts
A disabled socialist campaigner and medically retired nurse. Member of the Labour Party for 15yrs, Disability Officer Hackney South CLP Equalities Officer Unite Community Hackney & Islington branch London Unite Labour Party Liaison Committee member. It could be said that currently the Labour government is on a bit of a sticky wicket. Ghosts from across the pond are threatening to dislodge the direction and future of both the leadership team and the PM. The rise of the far right and the Reform Party are putting increased pressure upon Labour ahead of this year’s local elections. Then there’s the trade deal between the US and UK on pharmaceuticals that could potentially cost the NHS £9bn. And on top of that the UK has lost its Measles Elimination Status. Which is why the SHA, as an affiliated Social Society, is a much needed and vital campaigning body. To pressurise the Government into continuing the funding of our NHS and its services and not bury it within the DWP. And more. As a vice-chair of the SHA I’ve been proud to represent us, being a delegate to both the Labour Party’s National Conference and National Women’s Conference. I’ve attended on behalf of the SHA meetings of the Socialist Societies. Also attending health, welfare and NHS related events, such as parliamentary briefings. At these events, I’ve done my best to voice the SHA aims and values. The NHS simply must remain a publicly funded, publicly accountable and a publicly provided service.
Rachel Garnham
I am an experienced, committed campaigner with more than 30 years experience in the labour movement. I am standing for Vice Chair of the Socialist Health Association to play my part in ensuring that the voices of health campaigners, experts and activists are heard in the Labour Party. SHA plays such an important role in exposing the inadequate funding and creeping privatisation of our National Health Service, and the pernicious role of the market, making the case for accountability, greater public investment and support for healthcare workers. SHA has done a great job in working with CLPs, trade unions and other socialist societies to expose the health crisis that has been part of the genocide in Gaza and ensure Labour Conference in 2025 took a better position than the Party leadership and demanded comprehensive sanctions against Israel, including a full arms embargo, in line with its obligations under international law. As Vice Chair I would work to ensure we continue this important role. Labour is currently heading in the wrong direction and losing support. Labour in government should be investing in public services, particularly the NHS, standing up for peace and justice internationally, and challenging the far-right and racism. To reverse falling support, Labour must listen to members and affiliates, particularly SHA on health policy. My experience on Labour’s National Executive Committee, seven years on the National Policy Forum, as Chair of the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy and as a current SHA Eastern Region officer, CLP policy officer and Women’s Branch Secretary, can contribute to supporting SHA navigate Labour’s democratic structures, which are so often undermined by the current Labour Leadership. I am a member of UCU, Socialist Education Association and the Co-operative Party, and a strong supporter of the trade union link.