Neil was a cancer patient in 1994 and became involved in a myriad of roles after his experience as he firmly believed that lay people have a vital role to play in all aspects of healthcare.  He became an active member of patient support groups in North Wales and subsequently became a facilitator, trainer and co-researcher for Macmillan and encouraged lay people and professionals to interact and work together towards a common goal.

Everyone who had the opportunity to meet and work with Neil will know that he never shied away from controversy and was always ready to challenge and question.  In the last ten years he became involved in many activities and he was the lay member on a number of groups including; the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Patient Liaison group, the Council of the Royal College of Radiologists, the NIHR Evaluation, Trials and Studies Coordinating Centre PPI Reference group, the Wales Deanery, the Healthcare Scientist Programme HEE Professional Board, Clinical Pathology Accreditation, the Association for Clinical Biochemistry and was a member of the Stakeholder Forum for the UK for BBMRI and until September 2011 was the Chairman of the Lay Committee of the Royal College of Pathologists.

Neil was a true patient advocate and he will be sorely missed by all.  Everyone at WCB would like to extend their sympathy to Neil’s mother, brothers and sister.