Wyre Forest Health Partnership (WFHP) Represents Primary Care at Scale
About Wyre Forest Health Partnership – WFHP
We are a fully formed partnership of five GP surgeries serving over 73,780 patients, with over three hundred staff located in the Wyre Forest area in North Worcestershire.
From the early days of our organisation we were determined to try and form a business to be proud of, one that builds on the traditional strengths of General Practice but in a new structure that would allow us to thrive in the modern NHS.
With the continuing pressure on GP practices and the every changing NHS landscape, we are expected to change the way we operate to accommodate integration with other health care providers on a larger scale. The partnership gives us the structure and stability that we need to continue to evolve and to be at the forefront of change.
With continuity of care between a patient and their clinician being paramount, our organisation ensure that the day-to-day running of the site is overseen by a site based manager supported by the site based partners and staff. To support the individual sites in delivering the best possible care and to ensure we as a partnership will meet the key challenges facing primary care, we have built a cohesive and specialist team of managers and administrators who work across the partnership..
We are members of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System.
WFHP as a Primary Care Network (PCN)
As a result of its scale, WFHP functions as an integrated PCN in its own right. With our structure we are able to benefit from the opportunities which the PCN Enhanced Service can bring; we are able to make prompt agreed decisions around resources, their use and other opportunities.
Meet Our Board Members
The Wyre Forest Health Partnership is run by an elected Board of GP Partners, a Managing Director, and a Finance Lead.
The Partnership head office team is based out of Bewdley Medical Centre. Its aim is to both improve, as well as create new services & systems delivering the strategy agreed by Board. The Executive team is led by the Managing Director supported by a full time HR Director, Business Services Director and Operations Director. The Executive Team team is supported by a range of business functions.
Our Leadership Team
Dr Claire Kneebone
WFHP Chair, GP, Board Lead
Bewdley Medical Centre
About Dr Claire Kneebone
Med School/University – Manchester.
Qualifications and date achieved – MRCP MRCGP Cert Med Ed.
Career to date – After finishing my training in Manchester I completed my further medical qualifications and the decided to train further to become a GP. I completed my GP qualifications and worked in the Northwest, New Zealand for a year before relocating to Worcestershire. I have been at Bewdley Medical Centre since 2011.
Clinical interests/specialisms – I enjoy all aspects of general practice. I have a particular interest in Gastroenterology, menopause, medical research and education.
Mrs Ruth Lemiech
Managing Director
About Ruth Lemiech
I joined WFHP in February 2024. I was attracted to the Partnership due to its enviable reputation as a leading innovative provider, customarily outperforming its peers and providing excellent patient care.
I have over 22 years experience of working in the NHS and I’ve worked for a range of different organisations, most recently as Director of Place Development at the Integrated Care Board. I am passionate about using data to inform strategic decision making, and the arts of Population Health Management and integrated working.
I live locally with my husband and two daughters; one of the numerous perks of my job is my five minute commute to work along the picturesque Severn.
Dr Roy Williams
GP and PCN Co-Clinical Director
Stourport Medical Centre
About Dr Roy Williams
I trained as a registrar in General and Breast surgery before commencing my career in General Practice. I perform minor surgery regularly, and having had training in Orthopaedics and Rheumatology have an interest in bone and joint problems and perform joint injections in the surgery. I also represent the Practice as chair of the local GP Association, working with GPs locally in the development and management of local healthcare. I am the previous Chair of the Wyre Forest Health Partnership and am also IT lead – working with our IT team to improve use of technology in all our sites – by sharing good practice and improving quality of both IT use by clinicians, and availability of new technology for patients. I am the county GP IT lead and the joint clinical director of our primary care network, which involves working with other providers and our ICB to try to get the best care for our patients.
Dr Tristan Brodie
GP and PCN Co-Clinical Director
Kidderminster Medical Centre
About Dr Tristan Brodie
Medical School: University of Birmingham
Qualifications: MBChB, DCH, MRCGP, LMCA BSLM
Career to date: I have been a GP partner within Wyre Forest Health Partnership since the organisation formed in 2014. At that point I was working at the old Stourport Health Centre (since 2010), and I briefly worked at the town’s new Medical Centre before joining colleagues at Kidderminster Medical Centre in January 2023. I subsequently moved to Hagley Surgery in April 2025.
Clinical interests: I am the partnership’s clinical lead for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. I am an accredited lifestyle medicine physician and I’m keen to support patients to recognise how adopting healthy lifestyle behaviours can play a vital role in both the prevention and management of ill-health.
Dr Emma Cull
Board Lead
Kidderminster Medical Centre
About Dr Emma Cull
To be updated.
Dr George Atherton
Board Lead
Kidderminster Medical Centre
About Dr George Atherton
To be confirmed
Dr Sebastian Morton
Board Lead
Stourport Medical Centre
About Dr Sebastian Morton
I started working York House Medical Centre (now Stourport Medical Centre) after completing GP training there in 2013. I have been a board member of WFHP since Spring 2018. I am also one of the local medical committee (LMC) representatives for the Wyre Forest and am a member of the local GP association. I enjoy my work in general practice and have a special interest in treating patients with drug and alcohol problems. Outside of work I am a keen runner and enjoy spending time with my family.
Dr Christopher Troth
Board Lead
Hagley Surgery
About Dr Christopher Troth
Med School/University –University of Birmingham Medical School.
Qualifications –MBChB 2013, MRCGP 2018.
Career to date – I completed foundation medical training in Birmingham and Solihull, then moving to Warwickshire to complete my general practice specialist training. I worked for two years as a salaried GP in south Warwickshire before taking up my current post as a partner at Hagley Surgery.
Clinical interests/specialisms –I am the palliative care lead at the surgery and also the lead GP for the Glades community team. I have an interest in musculoskeletal medicine and perform joint injections at the surgery. I am the main tutor for medical student education at the surgery.
Dr Suzy Elliot
Board Lead
Bewdley Medical Centre
About Dr Suzy Elliot
Med School/University – Birmingham University.
Qualifications and date achieved – MRCP 2005, MRCGP, DRCOG, DFFP.
Career to date – After leaving medical school I joined the GP training scheme in Worcestershire. I have been at Bewdley Medical Centre since 2011.
Clinical interests/specialisms – I have a particular interest in children’s and women’s health including family planning and the menopause. I also enjoy teaching and training and am a registered GP trainer.
Dr Mary-Ann Bowen Board Lead
Church Street Surgery
About Dr Mary-Ann Bowen
I am lead GP at Church Street Surgery, Kidderminster and access lead for the Wyre Forest Health Partnership.
After completing my medical degree in Nottingham, I did various hospital training jobs across the Midlands. I then worked as a salaried GP in Smethwick for 10 years, before joining WFHP as a GP partner in 2017. I am a GP trainer and have special interests in diabetes, women’s health, migrant health and long covid.
I live locally with my family and have 2 children. I enjoy getting outdoors (especially if there is a good view) and am currently learning how to grow some of my own fruit and veg.
Mark Skellum
Head of Finance and Partner at Ballards LLP
About Mark Skellum
I am a partner at specialist healthcare accountants Ballards LLP. I act as the practice’s Head of Finance and helps record, monitor and plan the financial performance of the business to ensure resources are directed in the best possible manner to maximise sustainable patient care.
WFHP Site Managers
Ian Brookes
Bewdley Medical Centre
Sally Hookes
Church Street Surgery
Samantha Burns
Kidderminster Medical Centre
Dawn Prescott
Hagley Surgery
Donna Davies
Stourport Medical Centre
How WFHP Engages with Patients
Patient Engagement
From the beginning of the partnership we have engaged with our patients to help direct our organisation. We have established patient participation groups (PPGs) in all our sites who have regular meetings to discuss how we can improve our services. The PPG also assist with patient surveys and fundraising for specialist equipment by holding special events.
The WFHP Chair and CEO have quarterly meetings with the sites PPG Chairs in order to update them on partnership matters and to receive feedback from them.
We want to hear your views and really value your input!
If you want to take part in your surgery’s patient group please contact your local site manager.
This document describes how patients can interact with our organisation at all levels:
We want to hear your views and really value your input, if you want to take part in our patient groups please contact your local site manager.
