Their appointment reflects our continued commitment to improving health outcomes and the quality of life for the diverse communities we serve.
Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) play a vital role in shaping the direction of the Trust. They bring an independent perspective to our Board of Directors, providing thoughtful oversight and challenge, governance and leadership to the Trust. Professor Dr Dougall and Dr Jameel will work alongside our other NEDs, the Chair of the Trust and Executive Directors as we work together to deliver compassionate, inclusive and high-quality care.
Professor Dr Durka Dougall is a medical consultant and public health specialist with more than 25 years' experience in the NHS with a deep and abiding passion for overcoming health inequalities, and is proud of her Sri Lankan heritage.
As founder and Chief Executive of the Centre for Population Health, a not-for-profit organisation, she has led work that tackles health inequalities, empowers communities and improves the lives of the most vulnerable. She is also the Chair of the Health Creation Alliance, the leading national cross-sector movement improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequity through Health Creation. Having supported other NHS trusts and Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) for over 10 years, Durka is currently a NED at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, chairing the Integration Oversight Committee, and has been the Deputy Chair since January 2024.
Dr Farah Jameel is a Camden-based general practitioner (GP) with more than 20 years of frontline clinical experience. She currently co-chairs the Camden Local Medical Committee and is the London representative of the Medical Women's Federation. Having lived previously in both India and the UAE, she is passionate about the use of IT to improve patient outcomes. Farah is also a NED at North London NHS Foundation Trust, where she chairs its Quality and Safety Committee. In 2021, she became the first woman to chair the British Medical Association’s GP Committee – representing all GPs across the country.
Eileen Taylor, Chair of ELFT, warmly welcomed the appointments: “I am delighted to welcome Durka and Farah to our Directors. They bring a wealth of experience in population health and addressing health inequalities, and it is clear that they care deeply about issues facing residents in east London and Bedfordshire. Their insight and leadership will be a tremendous asset as we continue to centre compassion, safety and equity in all that we do.”
“I look forward to working with them to improve the experiences of our service users, carer and staff.”
Professor Dr Durka Dougall said: “It’s a real privilege to join a Trust whose values resonate so strongly with my own. I’m honoured to take on this role and look forward to supporting the Board in building healthier futures for the people we serve.”
Dr Jameel added: “I’m excited to be joining ELFT and contributing to its mission of delivering high-quality, person-centred care. It’s inspiring to see the commitment across the Trust to listening, learning, and continuously improving for the benefit of all.”