The Royal United Hospital in Bath has appointed a new Director of Nursing, to supervise care throughout the hospital.
Helen Blanchard joins the hospital from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, where she was Chief Nursing Officer, having previously been Director of Nursing and Quality at Hereford County Hospitals NHS Trust.
Helen said: “I’m delighted to have been appointed as Director of Nursing at the RUH and I have had a great welcome from staff.
“My initial impressions are that this is a very good hospital, filled with staff working incredibly hard for their patients. Staff are clearly committed to ensuring that patients and their families are at the centre of everything we do and that they have the best experience possible whilst in our care.
“In my previous roles I have a gained a lot of experience driving up core standards of nursing, infection prevention and control, and improving both patient safety and the overall patient experience, and I am hoping to use this experience to build upon the great work already happening here at the RUH.”
Helen is a Registered General Nurse, and holds an MSc in Nursing Studies.
The role of Director of Nursing was previously filled on an acting basis by Assistant Director of Nursing (Medicine) Mary Lewis. The previous substantive Director of Nursing was Francesca Thompson, who is now the Chief Operating Officer.
