Board Members | Patients Advocacy Service, Scotland

All of our Board Members are volunteers who graciously provide PAS with their time and expertise to help make important decisions to allow the organisation to run smoothly. Below you will find some information about who each person is and what they do outside of this important work.

Laura Murphy

Chair

After graduating from The University of Glasgow with an MA (hons) in psychology, Laura worked in the field of additional support needs, particularly Autism, epilepsy and complex health needs. Holding a variety of roles throughout her career, managing registered services and adopting a person centred approach to support. In 2022 Laura began her current role as Outreach Services Manager at Beatson Cancer Charity. In this role she manages several patient support services, established the Bereavement Support service and Chairs the charity’s Lived Experience Group. In her spare time Laura enjoys time with her family and two dogs. She enjoys challenging herself and has recently taken up running. Taking on her first half marathon last year. Her other hobbies include weightlifting, reading and being outdoors.

Ruth Buchanan

Board Member

Ruth joined PAS in May 2021. She has worked in mental health for over forty years (!) first as a nurse, then as a social worker / Mental Health Officer. She was involved with advocacy services as an MHO and feels strongly they do not always get the recognition they deserve. She still does occasional MHO shifts and sits on the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland when not enjoying being retired.

Karen Martin

Board Member

Joined 2026

Karen joined the Patients’ Advocacy Service in March 2026. Karen worked as a mental health nurse before commencing a long career in the third sector in a variety of mental health organisations for over 30 years before retiring to become a full-time unpaid carer for her husband. Her passion has always been promoting the voice of service users and unpaid carers of those using mental health services and the people who care for them. Karen still keeps up to date with mental health law and practice through her role as General Member with Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and was also Co-Chair of Review of Mental Health Law and Learning Disability Legislation, where she took lead on recommendations for improvements in the involvement of unpaid carers, including named persons, in care of those subject to legislation.