Our People
A team of experienced, dedicated and highly professional staff is crucial to the success of our shared business and client objectives.
Richard Blain – Chief Executive
Richard founded Health Partners in 1993 and took the central role in the design, development and implementation of ‘The Premier League Medical Care Scheme’, which is managed by Health Partners to this day. The scheme facilitates the provision of healthcare to 90% of all professional footballers in England and Wales, including Premier League & Football League clubs, and the national squads. He has instilled his own principles of integrity, client service and professionalism throughout Health Partners and has developed a strong culture of staff loyalty, cooperation, innovation and skills development within the firm.
Richard Bown – Director
With over 27 years experience in the financial services and healthcare industry, Richard has worked with many ‘blue-chip’ and prestigious clients that have included members of the Royal Family; the Royal Air Force and the film, television and music industries. Richard is the Account Director for the Premier League Medical Trust, managing it for over thirteen years and has developed the Scheme from its earliest beginnings to the largest and most successful Trust of its type in the world.
Neil Redman – Director
With over 27 years business experience with Kleinwort Benson, Royal Trust and Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT), including mergers and acquisitions with large multinationals across healthcare and insurance markets, Neil has considerable experience in managing businesses, overseeing change management and developing new business opportunities. Neil’s understanding, contacts and personal relationships across sport and sports medicine, aligned with strong commercial skills, add significant value and perspective to the success and development of Health Partners and our clients’ ambitions. Neil is the Account Director for the ECB and TASS medical trusts, leads business development in consultancy, out-sourced services and amateur sport services and is the Founding Director of SEMPRIS.
Dr James Brown MBChB MSc FFSEM (UK) – Clinical Director
A Fellow of the Faculty of Sports & Exercise Medicine, and founder of UKADIS (UK Association of Doctors in Sport) in 2001, James is an Interventional Sport and Exercise Medicine Physician with extensive knowledge and experience in sports injuries. Sports Physician to England RFU U21’s from 2000- 2004, James has held posts as Sports Physician to: Yorkshire County Cricket 1998 - 2000, Huddersfield Giants Rugby League FC 1998 – 2000, Wakefield Trinity Rugby League FC 1996 – 1998. He is currently Sports Physician to the Northern Ballet theatre company. James is a Director of Open Sports Medicine, an active discussion group for any Physician / Surgeon involved in Sport & Exercise Medicine and a Director of Technology in Medicine Ltd.
Kay Ford – Operations Manager
Kay has over seventeen years management experience in the healthcare sector, having worked for Health Partners for the last nine years and previously with two of the UK’s major healthcare providers. Prior to Health Partners, Kay was a Senior Corporate Manager with BUPA Wellness responsible for developing and managing out-sourced services. With extensive experience and key responsibility for service procurement and contract pricing / negotiation, Kay plays a central role in maintaining the competitiveness of our medical trust business.
Frances Phillips – Account Manager
Frances joined Health Partners in 2006 as Account Manager to the ECB Healthcare Trust (England & Wales Cricket Board) and in October 2009 was also appointed Account Manager for the TASS Medical Care Scheme (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme). Having been a successful business manager with one of the largest private medical insurers in the UK prior to joining Health Partners, Frances has over 19 years of experience in process enhancement and product management across the healthcare sector and is the lead on IT and online client services within the business.
Caroline Westrep – Account Manager
A graduate from the University of London, Caroline joined Health Partners in 1995 following 11 years with Standard Life. Armed with a wealth of detailed experience in all aspects of private healthcare and medical trusts, Caroline has led the Premier League Medical Care Scheme as Account Manager since 2000. With responsibility for over 10,000 individual treatment episodes per year, Caroline is acknowledged by the Premier League, clubs and medics alike as a key contributor to the success of the Premier League Medical Care Scheme.