Jude Irvine

Patient, Carer and Public Representative

Jude is a patient with respiratory and primary immunodeficiency diseases, who is a keen advocate of patient self-management; believing that empowered patients who are engaged with their own healthcare decisions are better equipped to deal with, and more able to self-manage difficult, and at times long term conditions.

With a background in architecture and business management, Jude, runs her own consultancy firm, providing guidance, mentorship, support and training; specifically for entrepreneurs and small business ventures, to establish in their chosen sector, and to promote growth and development. Drawing on many years of experience she also provides her clients with project and financial management, administration and HR, marketing/public relations and event management, and design services.

Jude has volunteered with the British Lung Foundation (now Asthma + Lung UK, A+LUK) for over 12 years, in various capacities, including speaking at medical events and seminars, reviewing and contributing to health information publications and sitting on various panels and patient think tanks as a patient representative.  As a member of the Expert Patient Panel (A+LUK), a Patient and Public Engagement Group (PPEG) member for Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals part of the Guy’s and St Thomas’s Trust Group (RBHGSTT), and Lead Patient Influencer on the Apollo Programme (RBHGSTT), she has had the opportunity to learn from and interact with many patients who experience healthcare in different ways, and along with her own healthcare journey experience has highlighted disparities across departments, Trust Groups, geographical/economical areas and different community groups.  This has encouraged her to seek out involvement in organisations and projects creating improvement of patient health and healthcare experiences; raising awareness and being ‘a voice’ for those unable to raise theirs. 

As a visiting lecturer at universities, delivering lectures and workshops, relating to the patient experience and self-management of long-term conditions, Jude raises further awareness with the healthcare professionals, at the earliest stages of their careers.

Jude will be working alongside Karen Taylor and Lindsey Stedman from the Royal Brompton and Harefield Patient and Public Engagement Group (PPEG). The trio's focus during the Fellowship will be to increase patient and public involvement in quality improvement projects across the Heart, Lung and Critical Care Clinical Group of Guys and St Thomas's Trust with a specific focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.