Cristina was London’s first Musculoskeletal Patient Director working within the NHS. She always champions both the promotion of patient leadership and the active involvement of lived experience in all aspects of the planning, design and delivery of care through coproduced clinical pathways. She has health and care experience at local, regional, national level and has recently gone Global joining The Beryl Institute Global Patient Family Advisory Board (GPFAB).

Cristina always radiates enthusiasm for her patient and community work, her patient involvement is extensive, she is involved with various patient and public groups with a strong passion for justice and health inequalities to be faced head on. On her shows she faces things head on and challenges the status quo, taking on the subjects you want to discuss but are afraid to ask about.

Cristina has experience of self-management of both physical and mental health as a result of her own chronic health conditions. She is always willing to answer questions regarding her physical & mental health, as well as her disabilities and is a keen believer in breaking stigmas around mental health.

She is currently Lived Experience Ambassador for Experience of Care, NHS England and Improvement.