Richard Bourne is a manager in the English NHS and former Chair of the Socialist Health Association. He has been a District and County Councillor in Essex and held other public roles and is an occasional advisor to the Labour Party's Health Team.
He was Chair of Governors at King's Ford Junior School in Colchester, he was followed into this lofty position by Bruce Tuxford. The school is now recognised as having serious weaknesses by the school's inspectorate, Ofsted.
He is a socialist and active campaigner for socialist values in politics and health.
He was reappointed as Chair of Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust in September 2009, after chairing it for four years. In November 2009 he was removed by Monitor from his position because it was failing to meet clinical targets. He described the action as "unfair" and said he believed the action was taken because he refused to resign - and because he was critical of the competition culture being promoted in the NHS.