Rachel joins the hospice from global kidney care provider Diaverum where she was Director of Operations for the past six years.  She brings with her a wealth of clinical and management experience from business, the NHS and healthcare sectors.

She began her career as a podiatrist in the NHS then moved to Boots where she ran 56 clinics across the UK. She has also worked at Nottingham University Hospital where she managed the Diagnostic Imaging and Clinical Neurophysiology Unit and later the Renal, Transplant, Diabetes and Cardiac surgery and vascular surgery departments.

“I’m delighted to take on this important and exciting role at a time when our services are expanding and we are preparing to welcome patients back into the building to our new Therapy and Wellbeing service,” said Rachel.

“Throughout my career I’ve always been keen that end of life care for patients is treated as priority.  We’ve seen throughout the pandemic the importance of providing high quality care in patients homes at the end of their lives. Hospice care has never been so crucial.”

Rachel has seen first-hand the quality of care provided by Nottinghamshire Hospice as her mother-in-law, Anne,  received care from the hospice at home last year at the end of her life.

Rachel said: “I was so impressed by the hospice care. The people who came were incredible. My mother-in-law had pancreatic cancer and it was a long, drawn out death. As a family we were so exhausted by that point, so it was such a relief when the hospice got involved.

“They helped with personal care, toileting, catheter care and repositioning. Even the fact that they came and checked was reassuring for my father-in-law.

“Anne died in her own home with her husband, sister and son with her. You can’t ask for a better death. If it wasn’t for the hospice care she would have died in a hospital bed by herself.”

Childhood connection

Rachel’s connection with the hospice goes back to her childhood. She grew up in Mapperley and noticed the building from her school bus. “I was intrigued by the hospice even when I was little,” she said. “Then I came to a summer fair here and saw what a lovely place it is.

“It’s a wonderful place, fabulous people and a beautiful building. I’m proud of the work we do, especially as I’ve seen for myself how important it is for families.

“I’m keen to extend our reach to more people in different communities so I will make it my priority to broaden our care so that more people can receive our services.”

Rachel lives with her a husband and two teenage children and enjoys theatre, music, reading and walking as well as taking on intrepid fundraising challenges. She’s previously tackled a firewalk, an abseil, climbed Ben Nevis, numerous walking challenges and plans to take on a danceathon next.