Our Team

With over 100 years of experience, we have a vast amount of knowledge.

Health First ALW CIC is here to make a positive impact on your wellbeing and the health of our community.

Karen Holgate

Founder/Director

Karen Holgate

Founder/Director

Karen is a founding member and Director of Health First ALW which was set up along with Wendy Fairhurst in 2010. Health First initially started with 15 member practices and has steadily grown over the years.

Karen has worked in the NHS for 40 years the last 14 years being a Practice Manager in Chandler house. Prior to that working for the CCG ( FPC, Health authority and a few other names that the organisation has had over the last 40 years). Karen's positions have always been in primary care and has attained a great and varied knowledge of primary care over the years.

Wendy Fairhust

Founder/Director

Wendy Fairhust

Founder/Director

Wendy has worked for Health First as Clinical Director since its inception in 2010 and represents Health First on the board of Wigan GP Alliance.

Wendy has been working in Primary Care since 1990 when she was one of the first practice nurses in the country and subsequently in 1993 became one of the first Nurse Practitioners.

She progressed to becoming practice nurse course leader and Programme Director for the MSc in Clinical Nursing at the University of Manchester and external examiner for Non-Medical Prescribing and Primary Care Nursing at the University of Wolverhampton.

For 6 years she was chair of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner forum at the Royal College of Nursing and represented the RCN on national working parties with regard to nurses in commissioning. She was also on the working party which developed the RCN advanced practitioner credentialing system.

Linda Pilling

Business Manager/Director

Linda Pilling

Business Manager/Director

Linda joined Health First in 2014 with 34 years experience in Primary Care/Public Health working with cervical/breast screening programmes and CVD screening.

Linda has worked closely with GP practices in the borough over these years offering help and support and working with other lifestyle services to help to improve the health of the borough’s population.

Linda was involved in the roll out of the Find & Treat CVD screening programme in the Borough now known as the NHS Health Check National programme and has brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the current role. Linda has been involved with increasing the workforce of Health First to meet recently increase demands on our services during the global pandemic and is dedicated to help ensure that the health needs of the residents of the Borough have been met throughout this challenging time.

Lisa Riley

NHS Health Check Programme Lead

Lisa Riley

NHS Health Check Programme Lead

Lisa works as Clinical Lead Assistant supporting Health Firsts Clinical Lead and also the Health Care assistant team.

Lisa Joined Health First in 2014 and has 20 years of experience working within the NHS and Health Care providers.

Lisa Works very closely with the boroughs Health Care Assistants providing advice, support and training ensuring the competent delivery of the NHS Health Check Programme to the residents of the borough.

Lisa has also been working more recently providing training, support and vaccinating at the Covid Vaccination Centres throughout the borough.

Tom Pilling

IT Business Support Lead

Tom Pilling

IT Business Support Lead

Tom is currently the IT Business Support Lead within Health First supporting the team in all aspects of IT and developing the business with the use of Technology.

Tom is a graduate of Edge Hill University with over 9 years experience in the IT Field supporting various businesses in the Retail and Education Sector and has a wealth of Knowledge regarding various IT Functions.

Lorraine Wright

Project/Administration Support Lead

Lorraine Wright

Project/Administration Support Lead

Lorraine has recently joined us as the Project/Administration Support Lead. She has worked for the NHS for the last 14 years in Primary Care.

She will be supporting the work of several work streams including the NHS Health Check Programme. Health First are delighted to welcome Lorraine to the team.

Ashleigh Elms

PCN Liaison Lead

Ashleigh Elms

PCN Liaison Lead

Ashleigh has recently joined us as PCN Liaison Lead. With over 16 years in health care Ashleigh has gained a lot of experience and knowledge to bring to Health First.

Upon joining the team in May 2023 she has enjoyed working closely with the Primary Care Networks and supporting each of them moving forward. We are delighted to have Ashleigh with us at Health First.

Belinda Nixon

Administration Assistant

Belinda Nixon

Administration Assistant

Belinda started with Health First working on the admin bank team in August 2022 but since May 2023 has started working part time as administration assistant.

Belinda has a variety of experience and knowledge to bring to Health First with previous roles working in reception admin,cooking,safeguarding,support working and volunteering in various settings

Belinda is certainly a great addition to the team and we are delighted to have her on board.

Victoria Stuttard

Healthcare Assistant/Administration

Victoria Stuttard

Healthcare Assistant/Administration

I recently joined the team in January 2025 as a HCA to deliver health checks and also support with admin. My previous roles include working within the NHS on hospital wards for several years before also working for a number of years as a HCA within a GP practice. I'm a mum to 2 teenage girls Abbie and Freya, so when I'm not working they keep me busy!

Carol Bibby

Healthcare Assistant/Administration

Carol Bibby

Healthcare Assistant/Administration

After leaving school i worked in our family business as a mechanic for 15 years before taking a break to have my 2 daughters. I then had my own business for around 12 years, then worked as a receptionist in a GP surgery for the next 10 years, before joining Health First, where i am currently working in the admin team and training to become an HCA.

Our Team

With over 100 years of experience, we have a vast amount of knowledge.

Karen Holgate

Wendy Fairhust

Linda Pilling

Lisa Riley

Tom Pilling

Lorraine Wright

Ashleigh Elms

Belinda Nixon

Victoria Stuttard

Carol Bibby

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