Staff Disability Forum

The Staff Disability Forum exists to provide a support network for staff and to facilitate positive changes in the organisation. Staff engagement and feedback is vital for the organisation to work together. The Staff Disability Forum was established in 2015. 

If you would like to join our Staff Disability Forum please contact: ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot and if you wish to join the Forum’s mailing list, please be assured that your personal details will not be disclosed and you can be part of the Forum anonymously. Emails sent will always be blind copied.

The Forum has a social media presence on Facebook.

To be added to our mailing list, please email ggc.staffdisabilityforum@nhs.scot.

Please see the drop-down below for information about the Neurodivergent Sub-Group.

Staff Disability Forum Chair and Board Champion

Atika Sharma is Chair of the Staff Disability Forum and is a Learning Disability Physiotherapist within Glasgow City HSCP. Atika looks forward to continuing to grow and develop our Disability Staff Forum.

Kate Ocker is Vice-Chair of the Staff Disability Forum and is a Research Nurse, based at Gartnavel General Hospital. Kate helps to lead the Forum with commitment and determination and shares “I developed my own disability in 2005. It came out of the blue and turned my world upside down. My experiences of how I was then treated and perceived have left me with a burning passion to make sure nobody ever has to face that. Working together, we can achieve a valued, diverse workforce. I would love to see more people accessing the Staff Disability Forum for support, to contribute and above all, to make a difference. Sharing good practice is as helpful as raising concerns. You can contact in confidence, or you can join meetings and know that your voice is heard and valued.

I have been involved with the Forum since the beginning and I am delighted to see the steady growth. But there is still the need to spread the word that every voice matters. I am pleased to be stepping back as Atika takes over as Chair, with her huge compassion, energy and new perspectives. I will continue to give my support through the Forum.”

Martin Savage is also Vice-Chair of the Staff Disability Forum and is a Carers’ Information Worker within Glasgow City HSCP.

Dianne Foy has been a non-exec member of the NHS Board since June 2022 and at the end of 2024, welcomed the opportunity to take on the role of Disability champion. Dianne has had a strong interest in Equalities throughout her career, taking on roles as a Unison Trade Union rep and Equalities champion during her time working in the public sector. In more recent years she has retrained as a counsellor, working primarily with neurodivergent clients, many of whom also have co-occurring disabilities or chronic health conditions. Dianne is a late diagnosed autistic person whose career change was forced by Long Covid, so equal treatment for disabled people also has personal significance. Dianne is a member of the East Renfrewshire Integrated Joint Board, the Clinical and Care Governance Committee and the Population Health and Wellbeing committee, frequently raising issues related to disability in these meetings.