Helping healthcare organisations navigate complex change
Plane Sailing was founded to help healthcare organisations design, deliver and improve tobacco dependency services. We believe that successful transformation is about more than strategy – it requires experienced people who understand the realities of frontline healthcare, can bring stakeholders together around a shared vision, and know how to turn ambitious plans into action.
Our team combines decades of experience across public health, programme management, communications and digital transformation. We’ve worked at local, regional and national level, supporting NHS organisations, Integrated Care Systems and government departments to reduce smoking prevalence and tackle health inequalities.
Whether we’re reviewing a service, redesigning a pathway, developing the workforce or implementing digital solutions, our focus is always the same: improving outcomes for patients while making services simpler, more effective, and easier for frontline teams to deliver.
Our Story
Plane Sailing was established by a team of public health and NHS leaders who share a passion for improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities. Having spent decades leading regional and national programmes, we recognised the need for specialist consultancy that combines strategic thinking with practical delivery. Today, we work alongside our clients as trusted partners, providing the expertise, capacity, and leadership needed to deliver meaningful and lasting change.
Meet Our Team
Fran Frankland
Founder & Director
A public health specialist with over 30 years’ experience designing and delivering innovative public health programmes. Fran specialises in workforce development, service transformation and pathway design, and was the architect behind the first ever smoke-free pregnancy incentive scheme.
Jane Coyne
Senior Consultant – Treating Tobacco Dependency
An accomplished Programme Director, midwife and trusted advisor to NHS England. Jane has led the implementation of tobacco dependency treatment programmes across Integrated Care Systems, combining strategic leadership with extensive operational expertise.
Andrea Crossfield
Senior Consultant – Population Health Strategy
A senior public health consultant specialising in tobacco control strategy and population health improvement. Andrea works with systems and partnerships to develop evidence-based strategies that reduce smoking prevalence and tackle health inequalities.
Samantha Neville
Programme Manager & Communications Specialist
Samantha has led award-winning behaviour change campaigns and now combines strategic communications with programme delivery, stakeholder engagement and operational leadership to manage programme delivery.
Sarah Tattersall
Project Manager
An experienced project manager within the public sector and behaviour change. Sarah specialises in project delivery, planning and coordination, ensuring programmes are delivered efficiently while keeping stakeholders engaged throughout.
Tom Openshaw
Project Manager
An experienced NHS project manager specialising in transformation, assurance and operational delivery. Tom supports organisations to implement change with robust governance, practical project management and a focus on sustainable improvement.
Wendy-Ann Whittle
Workforce Development & Training Manager
A Tobacco Dependence Specialist with extensive frontline experience supporting people to quit smoking. Wendy combines clinical insight with training expertise, helping healthcare professionals build the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality tobacco dependency treatment.