QI contacts
We’re always happy to talk about improvement. For help and support please contact the team or get in touch with your QI Lead.
E: lg.qi@nhs.net
T: 020 3192 6535
Sulan Gingell, Associate Director of Quality Improvement
Sulan is our Associate Director of Quality Improvement and oversees the QI team at LGT.
Sulan is a qualified IHI Improvement advisor and certified EMCC coach, and is passionate about supporting teams to make improvements, leading to better patient outcomes and staff and patient experience. A key part of Sulan’s and the QI Team’s role is to support LGT to embed a culture of continuous improvement, working internally and with system partners to encourage the use of QI methodology. She is a strong advocate for patient co-production and delivers QI training to patients and carers, as well as staff and our partners.
Sulan began her career in the NHS in 2005 as a Healthcare Assistant, with a background in Mental Health. Since then, she has undertaken a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles including in psychology, clinical audit, governance and improvement.
T: 0208 333 3537 M: 07387 257 877
Alexandra Starks, Senior QI Lead - Surgery and Women’s, Children’s & Sexual Health and Non-Operational divisions
Alexandra has been with the QI team since its launch in 2019, spending the first 2.5 years as the QI Information Manager before progressing into the role of Senior QI Lead.
In that time she has provided analytical support for improvement projects across all sites and divisions, developed and taught various training courses related to improvement methodologies, and assisted in coaching project teams towards achieving their goals for improvement.
Alexandra is originally from Texas, and after time spent working with refugees in the US relocated to Edinburgh and then London. With an academic background in the humanities and a professional background in statistical analysis, Alexandra is passionate about making NHS data accessible and understandable to everyone who uses it.
E: alexandra.starks@nhs.net
T: 0208 333 3538 M: 07387 257830
Kayleigh Michalakis, Senior QI Lead - QEH Medicine, Allied Clinical Services & Lewisham Medicine and Community
Kayleigh began her career as a forensic scientist and expert witness in DNA evidence. It was within the forensic industry that Kayleigh learnt about lean methodologies, which she actively practised to lead various quality incident investigations and continuous improvement projects.
Kayleigh became a QI advisor at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation trust in 2019. Since then she has been trained in QSIR Practitioner, become a member of the Q community and gained accreditation in QSIR College. She supported the roll out and delivery of QI training across the trust and helped develop QI materials which supported colleagues to get the most out of their projects.
Kayleigh is now the Senior QI Lead for the QEH Medicine, Allied Clinic Services and Lewisham Medicine and Community divisions at Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust.
Kayleigh is passionate about helping and encouraging others to think differently about what they do, and support them to make the changes they want to see, whilst also evidencing the impact they have made.
E: kayleigh.michalakis@nhs.net
T: 0208 333 3536 M: 07393 008 372
Elaine Wilkinson, Quality Improvement Manager
Elaine Wilkinson has worked at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust for ten years holding various clinical and non-clinical roles in Occupational Therapy, Dementia Care, Falls, Project Management, Patient Experience, and Patient Safety. Elaine has always been passionate about quality improvement, working to improve services for patients, staff, and stakeholders and has engaged in training opportunities provided by the Trust to equip her with the skills required to become a Quality Improvement Manager.
Elaine holds a certificate in Project Management and is coming to the end of the Improvement Specialist Apprenticeship where she will qualify as a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and hold the new Gold QI Improvement Coach Specialist apprenticeship qualification. Elaine is looking forward to embedding a culture of continuous quality improvement, supporting the Trust’s ambition to provide high quality care to every patient, every day.
E: elainewilkinson2@nhs.net
T: 0208 333 3535 M: 07900 756 163
Ellen Smith, Quality Improvement Data Manager
E: ellen.smith@nhs.net
T: 0208 333 3538 M:
Please note Ellen is currently on Maternity leave, due to return in August 2024
Suneet Brar, Project Support Officer
Suneet is dedicated to driving continuous improvement and innovation within NHS. With a strong background in supporting and managing diverse projects within the NHS, including initiatives such as Patient Information Improvement and Learning Disability Health Checks, she currently supports QE Cares Programme, and Improvement & Transformation Team at LGT.
With her Master’s degree in Project Management and having recently completed the bronze level of QI training, Suneet prioritizes the adoption of agile-driven methodologies and inclusive practices in her projects. She firmly believes in amplifying the voice of patients and staff throughout the improvement process.
With her experience, skills and passion for driving positive change, she aims to contribute to LGT's vision to “Be Exceptional”, by supporting improvement and transformative projects that generate positive outcomes for both our patients and staff.
E: suneet.brar1@nhs.net
M: 07568 795 380