Diagnostics - National Improvement Leads

Amy Hodgkinson

Amy Hodgkinson is a National Improvement Lead working in the Diagnostics team for NHS Improvement. Since joining NHS Improvement, Amy has worked with a number of Cytology and Histopathology pilot sites, with the aim of reducing test result turnaround times and improving safety, quality and productivity.

Prior to working for NHS Improvement, Amy worked in the automotive industry where she developed an extensive understanding of Lean management and production systems. She has managed global vehicle projects from concept through pre-production to mass production, working with a diverse range of in house and supplier project teams. She has also led corporate strategy deployment activities.

More recently Amy has been working on Physiological Sciences improvement activities focusing on Audiology and Urodynamics service improvement. In addition, she is also supporting Path Links Pathology Service with implementing their strategy deployment plan.

Suzanne Horobin

Since joining NHS Improvement, Suzanne has worked with Cytology and Histopathology pilot sites to reduce test result turnaround times and department operating costs. Suzanne brings a wide range of operational leadership, change management and organizational development delivery experience from the private sector. She has had proven success in the development of leadership capability, organizational effectiveness and improved customer experience. She is Lean and Six Sigma trained and is an experienced facilitator and trainer.

Peter Gray

Since joining NHS Improvement Peter has worked with Phlebotomy sites to improve access, testing whether Phlebotomy can impact on Hospital wide priorities such as preventing admission or discharge and supporting Cytology pilot sites to reduce test result turnaround times. Prior to this, Peter worked at Bolton Hospitals Foundation Trust in the North West where following a number of Finance and Management roles he became Laboratory Medicine Manager in 2005 where he was introduced to ‘lean’ management philosophies. As part of Bolton Hospitals continuous Improvement programme he managed the combining of Haematology and Chemistry laboratories to form a single blood sciences department. This was achieved using ‘lean’ tools and techniques. Subsequently, he facilitated Lean improvement projects and events throughout the Trust as part of Bolton’s Continuous Improvement Programme. 

Susie Peachey

Before working as part of the National Diagnostics team, Susie worked with her local Trust using the national tools to reduce imaging waits and enable the trust to present at BIR meetings and the UK Radiological Congress. With a background as a BMS in Pathology, Susie is able to work with clinical teams to convert lean principles into practical redesign in pathology laboratories. Susie has also delivered training as part of the ILM management course to NHS professionals and to IBMS students as part of their introduction to Service Improvement methodology. More recently, she has been instrumental in helping the 10 pilot Cytology sites to deliver the 14day turnaround target for cervical smears a year ahead of schedule by utilising lean methodology across the entire patient pathway. Over the last year, Susie has worked with Histopathology teams to deliver improved TAT’s and reduced cosats, with a focus on the quality and productivity agenda.

Carole Smee

Craig Roberts

Victoria Brown

Carol Marley