Experts

Linda Dempster is a Registered Nurse who has been an infection prevention practitioner for over 20 years, with a strong background in healthcare provider services and a particular interest in reducing healthcare associated gram-negative bloodstream infections.

She has worked as Head of Infection Prevention and Control for the NHS Trust Development Authority in the South of England as well as at NHS Improvement.  Prior to setting up her own consultancy in March 2020, she was Head of IPC at NHS England.  

She contributed to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Case Note Review Report published in March 2021 and was one of the two specialists in Infection Prevention and Control appointed to the QEUH Independent Review in 2019.

She is currently co-leading a Code of Practice review for the UK Health Security Agency.

Dr Sara Mumford is Director of Infection Prevention and Control and Consultant Microbiologist at Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. She has particular interests in infection prevention, infectious diseases, patient safety and medical management.

Upon appointment, Dr Mumford led the turnaround in infection control across the Trust which resulted in a 94% reduction in C. difficile infection and a 96% reduction in MRSA bacteraemia since 2006. She continues to lead the Infection Prevention strategy for the Trust and the ongoing reduction in healthcare associated infections. In 2014, the Infection Prevention team were placed second overall and named best acute Trust in the Infection Prevention Society Team of the Year Awards.

During COVID-19 she was seconded to another Trust to lead the successful turnaround in Infection Prevention following a CQC improvement notice. Dr Mumford has held a number of management roles including Clinical Director of Diagnostics, Pharmacy and Therapies, and Deputy Medical Director.

Dr James Walker is a microbiologist with over 30 years’ experience in water microbiology and decontamination. He previously worked for Public Health England (PHE) where he managed a range of projects on biofilms and pathogens involving Legionella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and nontuberculous Mycobacteria.  Through PHE, he worked with the Department of Health (DH England) and the Health and Safety Executive in writing and developing national and international guidance on the microbiology of water and decontamination in healthcare. He has an extensive publication record including editing and writing water microbiology books. He is currently the Chair of the Central Sterilising Club.

Dr Shaun Fitzgerald OBE FREng FCIBSE FEI MA PhD Dr Shaun Fitzgerald is currently the Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at the University of Cambridge, where he has also been a Fellow in Engineering and tutor at Girton College. Dr Fitzgerald was Director of the Royal Institution, overseeing the programme for engaging the public with science and engineering from 2018 to 2020. He founded Breathing Buildings, a technology company which specialised in pioneering low energy hybrid ventilation systems. Dr Fitzgerald provided evidence to the Inquiry in May 2022. For further information see Inquiry Documents.

Professor Hilary Humphreys , DSc, MD, BCh, BAO, Dip HIC, FRCPI, FRCPE, FRCPath, FFPathRCPI, FESCMID Prof. Hilary Humphreys is Professor of Clinical Microbiology with the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and Consultant Microbiologist, Beaumont Hospital since 1998. His main research interests are in healthcare-associated infection including aspects of prevention and epidemiology. He also co-directs and leads the National Pneumococcal Reference Laboratory which is based in the Children's University Hospital, Temple Street, Dublin. He was Chair of the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee (Department of Health, Dublin) from 2010-2016 and recently completed his tenure as the Dean of the Faculty of Pathology (2016-2019) at The Royal College of Physicians in Ireland. He was Vice-Dean of Research in RCSI from 2013 to 2016. He has recently being elected Chairman of the Hospital Infection Society (HIS) London. Professor Humphreys provided evidence to the Inquiry in May 2022. For further information see Inquiry Documents.

Mr Stephen J Maddocks B.Eng, C.Eng, MCIBSE, FIHEEM Mr Maddocks is a chartered building services engineer with over 40 years’ industry experience. He is currently a Partner and Health Sector leader at Cundall. Mr Maddocks is a member of the Chartered Institute of Building Service Engineers , a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institute of Healthcare Engineering and Estate Management. Mr Maddocks often gives lectures on the principles of ventilation and air conditioning, mentors students and is called upon as a technical expert for advice on a range of engineering issues related to hospitals. Mr Maddocks provided evidence to the Inquiry in May 2022. For further information see Inquiry Documents.

Mr Andrew Poplett IEng, MIHEEM, ACIBSE

Mr Poplett is an Authorising Engineer, having undergone a peer review process by the Institute of Healthcare Engineering & Estate Management (IHEEM) and is currently an independent healthcare consultant providing expertise to health facilities on ventilation and water in accordance with relevant Health Technical Memorandum (HTM).

He is an incorporated engineer registered with the Engineering Council and is an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers. He is a founding member of the Specialist Ventilation in Healthcare Society (SVH), where he contributed to and authored various guidance documents on aspects of ventilation in a healthcare setting.

Mr Poplett gave evidence to the Inquiry in May 2022. For further information see Inquiry Documents.