New year, new chief for Hospice

Steve Jamieson is succeeding Ros Taylor, who has held the post for the last 18 years , and will take up his post in March for a period of handover before Dr Taylor leaves to take up her post more fully as National Director for Hospice Care at Hospice UK in April.

Steve, a high-profile leader in health and social care policy, with significant management, clinical and end of life care experience, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be appointed as CEO at The Hospice of St Francis.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to utilise my leadership skills within an organisation which is at the forefront of delivering excellence in care to people facing serious illness.

“I am very excited to be joining such a dedicated team and I’m really looking forward to taking St Francis to the next stage in its development.”

As the Royal College of Nursing’s Deputy Director of Nursing since 2007, Steve has brought significant change to the delivery of health policy both nationally and internationally, helping shape and promote excellence in practice.

But he started his career at the coalface, holding various nursing posts at hospitals in Northern Ireland, Blackpool and London before joining the Royal College of Nursing, the world’s largest professional union of nurses, in 1997 as its HIV sexual health and men’s health policy advisor.

He’s been a prime mover in improving care for people with dementia, has been a vice chair of the Board of Trustees at an HIV Hospice, The Sussex Beacon, in Brighton and is currently a trustee of Dementia Adventure Trust.

He also has extensive media experience, having presented on national television and radio and is an accomplished key note speaker at both national and international events.

Outgoing Dr Taylor said: “I’d like to warmly welcome Steve to The Hospice of St Francis. I know he will bring leadership and presence to a wonderful organisation which I’m sure will continue to thrive long into the future and which I’m sad to leave.

“The Hospice’s prime concern is to support the care of more patients and families facing the crisis of serious illness and the future is one of collaboration, innovation and partnership and I know that Steve’s experience will be hugely valuable in this.”