Welcome to the North West Clinical Senate team. The Senate is chaired by Prof Martin Vernon

Professor Martin J Vernon

Martin became a full-time NHS Consultant in Greater Manchester in 1999 where he continues to practise medicine currently delivering same-day emergency care for older people with clinical frailty. He has a MA in Medical Ethics and Law and was appointed Visiting Professor at the University of Chester in 2016. His current research interests focus on clinical frailty, cross-sector workforce development and care home policy and practice. He is a specialist collaborator with the NIHR Older People and Frailty Policy Research Unit and a specialist member of the NICE Indicator Advisory Committee. Between 2016 and 2019 he was the National Clinical Director for Older People at NHS England. He has led multiple national workstreams including the development of the 2019 NHS Long Term Plan Ageing Well Programme. In addition to his clinical role, Martin is an Associate Medical Director In Tameside, Greater Manchester, and clinical lead for older people at the Greater Manchester Strategic Clinical Network where he Chairs a system-wide advisory Frailty Care Reference Group.

Since 2020 Martin has worked as a senior clinical advisor to the Whipps Cross Hospital redevelopment programme in London where he Chairs a Clinical and Professional Advisory Group for North East London ICS and has led the development of a new Academic Centre for Healthy Ageing as a joint venture between Barts Health NHS Trust and Queen Mary University London.

2021 saw Martin appointed Chair of the North West Clinical Senate. He is supported by our Deputy Chair, Dr Martin Hogg.

Photograph of Dr Martin Hogg

Dr Martin Hogg

Martin has been involved in the NW Senate for a number of years and has enjoyed the challenge and variety of work involved in acting as that critical friend to the NHS.
Since his undergraduate days at Oxford and then at Barts he has been fascinated by cancer medicine.  He says; "Once I’d completed my general medical training I obtained my FRCR at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.  I’ve been a consultant clinical oncologist working at the Rosemere Cancer Centre in Lancashire for just under two decades. I specialise in breast and gynaecological cancers.

I’ve had the opportunity to see things from the other side of the fence; I served as Clinical Director at the Cancer Centre, been radiotherapy lead, chemotherapy lead at East Lancs, and currently governance lead as well as serving a term on the RCR Faculty Board.

What keeps me grounded are my wonderful family and the opportunity to spend time in beautiful places diving."

Caroline Baines

Caroline Baines is Head of the NW Clinical Senate and is supported by Pam Bailey, Senate Manager.

Caroline joined the NHS in 1999 working in health promotion in Wirral. She then progressed to various roles in public health including strategic lead for obesity, physical activity, CVD, and cancer, developing and managing a Public Health Intelligence Team, and commissioning sexual health services. In 2013 she joined NHS England as a member of the Public Health Commissioning Team for Cheshire, Warrington, and Wirral where she also spent five months working in Specialised Commissioning. From 2015-2017 she undertook a secondment in Cheshire East Council where she was jointly employed by the local authority and CCGs to lead joint commissioning across health and social care, including the implementation of the Better Care Fund. This role gave her an opportunity to learn about adult social care and be an objective voice in the complex system of health and social care.

In 2017, Caroline started in her current role which she feels combines her previous experience with her long-standing passion of wanting to deliver the best possible services for our communities. In her spare time, Caroline continues this passion by volunteering with local healthcare organisations.

Pam Bailey, Senate Manager

Pam has worked in the NHS for over 20 years, providing administration and project facilitation in secondary and community care. She also has experience of working within Patient and Public Engagement, having previously been a PPI Champion for the SCN’s Palliative & End of Life Care and Diabetes networks.

Outside of work Pam enjoys traveling, trying new food experiences, and spending time with her two grandchildren.