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Chief nurse to retire after a 40-year career in nursing
We are recruiting an executive chief nurse to lead the Trust’s 3,000 nurses, midwives, allied health professionals and care support staff. The current chief nurse, Susan Wilkinson, is retiring in July after a 40-year career in nursing.
The chief nurse is part of the executive team and a member of the Trust Board, with a pivotal role in shaping clinical strategy, ensuring high standards of care, and providing professional leadership.
The role includes leading on critical priorities including patient engagement, safeguarding, and infection prevention and control; and supporting a culture that drives excellence, compassion and innovation to ensure delivery of equitable, safe and high-quality care.
Susan has been nursing for more than 40 years and became a registered nurse in 1987. She joined the Trust as interim chief nurse in May 2020, a role made permanent in December of that year. She said: “I have loved my nursing career, and feel privileged to have spent the last five years working with our amazing staff. Their commitment to the care of our patients and their families has been an inspiration.”
Chief executive Dr Ewen Cameron said: “Sue joined the Trust at the start of the pandemic, and has been a key member of our leadership team as we faced those challenges, and the ongoing recovery which has seen increasing demands and pressures on our services. She has provided inspiring and compassionate leadership to thousands of our colleagues in both our acute and community services.
“After more than 40 years as a nurse, Sue has earned a long and happy retirement, and will be much missed. We look forward to working with her successor.”
The WSFT is an integrated Trust providing inpatient, outpatient and community care. It includes the acute West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket Community Hospital, and a wide range of community services for adults and children, primarily in West Suffolk, but some services are provided across the county. It works closely with partner organisations to ensure that care wraps around a person’s individual needs.
Access the job description and other details of this post, and application form. The closing date for applications is Wednesday, 12 February 2025.
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