International Women's Day 2023 - CEO Blog

This International Women’s Day, I’ve been able to reflect on a number of things, particularly being a woman in the NHS. I started my career as a student nurse in July 1992 I qualified in 1995, I was strong and driven and wanted to influence to improve patient care. I have never strayed far from my clinical nursing roots and recently worked a shift on Cairns Ward. This ward specialises in neuro-oncology and hydrocephalus, where patients can often have complex needs and require high levels of support. It was familiar and new all at the same time. Familiar in the sense of working with patients and delivering care as per their individual needs, but new with regards to the larger digital element of the job. It’s amazing to see innovative systems being utilised to manage patient care, staffing requirements and even patients making food choices through tablet computers. This change only enhances the ever-present outstanding care that I saw while I was there. I hope to be invited to shadow more shifts where possible in other areas of the hospital, to see more of the high-quality services being delivered to patients first-hand.

Closer to home and my role as CEO, I’m pleased that our Trust Board is well represented by leading women, lending their respective skillsets to the hospital. Half of our Executive Team is female, which is unusual in comparison to other organisations. It is incredibly important to be represented on all levels of the Trust, and I believe we are a modern organisation, making headway and enhancing opportunities for women.   

It is well recognised that it’s harder for women to progress in their careers, promotion is harder and if I use my own personal experience, I have also had three children, which means three periods of maternity leave and some working part time. This can be a challenge when trying to progress. However, I truly believe women can have both – a happy family and a career. I want to inspire and support women at The Walton Centre to do this. Women shouldn’t have to work or fight harder to progress. As CEO of The Walton centre, I strive every day to support staff, through flexible working, development opportunities and speaking up for fairness and equality. But I especially want to support our strong women, who have the potential to be the leaders of the future.

Looking at all the brilliant women who work here at The Walton Centre, I am inspired. They work tirelessly to ensure services are available to our patients, and that they experience the very best treatment. I want Walton Women to feel empowered when coming to work, and to know that they are strong and valued for their hard work.