Meet the Team

Dr Simon Abrams

Chair

Dr Simon Abrams is a GP based in Liverpool. For over 25 years he has worked in a practice in Everton focussing on issues of vulnerable people, deprivation and substance misuse. He has been part of Urgent Care Primary Care since the days of GP Co-ops, becoming an Out of Hours Medical Director in 2005. In 2014 he was elected Chair of Urgent Health UK, the Federation of Social Enterprise Urgent Primary Care Providers. A role he continues to this day. As well as a passion for health care, he is a keen Allotment gardener and Francophile.

Conor Burke

Chief Executive

Conor is a former NHS leader who he began his career as an Occupational Therapist working as a clinician and then NHS manager in London. Most recently he has worked as an independent healthcare consultant helping with NHS systems, HealthTech companies and life science organisations to transform the delivery of health and care. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Herts Urgent Care (HUC) Ltd. Conor was appointed CEO UHUK in October 2021.

Nigel Gazzard

Managing Director BRISDOC

Nigel joined the NHS in 2005 from the financial services industry. Working at senior levels, he enjoyed a varied career gaining experience of both strategic and operational roles covering everything from customer service, relationship management, information processing and large scale call centres. The skills learned have proved invaluable in supporting the development of BrisDoc as a patient centred, high quality NHS service provider. He holds a Masters Degree in Leadership from Exeter University, is a published author and continues to hold various directorships, although, his primary commitment is with BrisDoc.

Stephen Bateman

Chief Executive DHU Health Care

Stephen joined DHU as Chief Operating Officer on 6th January 2014, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in July 2014. Stephen has had a successful career in healthcare where he has previously worked for Allied Healthcare Group and Saga Healthcare. He has a wealth of operational, finance, customer service, project management, and commercial experience in the UK and abroad. Stephen is a Chartered Accountant (CPFA) and Member of Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT). Stephen resides in Nottingham and is married with 3 children. He is interested in football, cricket, golf, gardening, travel and DIY.

Matt Adam

Independent NED, Founder and CEO of We Are Digital

Matt is the founder and CEO of an impact-driven social enterprise, We Are Digital. He mentors other social enterprise founders, and is specifically skilled in strategic objectives. Matt has a passion for creating positive social impact, combined with an entrepreneurial mindset, which has allowed him to foster meaningful relationships with various stakeholders across local authorities and central government. He is passionate about public sector innovation and welfare technology and services, looking to do things differently from the status quo, especially in disrupting how community investment is run traditionally, for higher impact for users and organisations. Matt is committed to contributing his strategic acumen, industry knowledge, and collaborative spirit to advance UHUK’s social mission.

Michaela Buck

Chief Executive Mastercall

Experienced leader with more than 25 years experience in urgent ‘out of hospital’ healthcare; passionate about providing high quality, safe patient centred services and being a caring and nurturing employer. Specialising in the development and delivery of innovative services, embracing the use of digital technology, with a specific focus on hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge to improve patient outcomes, reduce inequalities and maximise return on investment for the benefit of the NHS. Michaela is also a director of the Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (in partnership with Bardoc and gtd Healthcare) and has been instrumental in the collaborative partnership approach to developing the Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) and dental helpline.

Hazel Harrison

Business Manager and Company Secretary

Hazel graduated with a BA in Modern Languages and Information Systems from Bristol and has since held senior PA posts within Education and the NHS. She is a qualified counsellor and has worked voluntarily for MIND. She worked with NHS Devon in Contracting before securing her role as Business Manager with UHUK.

Sarah Fletcher

Business Coordinator

Sarah joined the team in 2014 bringing skills gained from data processing, training delivery and technical authoring in the offshore survey industry to the business administrator role at Urgent Health. Sarah writes the weekly news for members, the bi-annual newsletter and is instrumental in organising the workshops for members.

Tonia Culpin

Director of Partnerships

Tonia retired in March 2021 as Chief Executive of LCW after 26 years and will remain on the LCW Board as a Non-Executive Director. Tonia also served as a UHUK Non-Executive Director from 2016 to 2023 and is now the Commercial Partnerships Director. During her time as a UHUK NED, Tonia worked with ASW Assurance to align the UHUK members audit to CQC standards as well as representing members interests relating to the services provided by Advanced Healthcare.

Sharon Clifton

Communications Advisor