Cristina joined NHS England in 2018 as London’s first musculoskeletal Patient Director but has 20+ year’s of experience working within local authority in Community Family Services and formed and chaired the first Disability Youth Forum in Camden. Her last project was specially commissioned for children with complex needs including autism. She has corporate experience as an IT consultant where she specialised in project /programme management and change management. She champions both the promotion of co-production and the active involvement of lived experience including disability, in all aspects of the planning, design and delivery of care through co-produced clinical pathways. She has experience of coproduction at local, regional and national and international level.
Currently the Lived Experience Ambassador for Experience of Care, NHS England and Improvement. She co-leads the NHS Beneficial Changes Network Patient / Carer work stream. Cristina always radiates enthusiasm for her patient and community work, her patient involvement is extensive, and she returned to work primarily as a Peer Coach to support others, she has a strong passion for justice and health inequalities to be faced head on. She is married to Kate and they were registered foster carers prior to her move to the other side of the NHS!
On a personal level she has experience of self-management of both physical and mental health as a result of her own chronic health conditions as well as a carer. Cristina spent lockdown shielding and DJ #LadyLXA emerged discussing on air physical & mental health, including her triggered PTSD.