Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust celebrates International Women’s Day
At Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, our world-leading team is 5,700 members of staff strong – 83% of those are women.
We are proud to support equal rights for women and gender equality, with female staff members in roles across our hospitals including surgeons, doctors, nurses, midwives, allied healthcare professionals, corporate and estates services.
To mark International Women’s Day (Thursday 8 March), we are celebrating our diverse workforce and highlighting where women are leading the way.
Sarah-Jane Marsh, Chief Executive Officer
Sarah-Jane joined the NHS via the Graduate Management Scheme, holding various roles in healthcare before being appointed as Chief Operating Officer at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in 2007. In March 2009, she was appointed Chief Executive Officer – at that time the youngest Chief Executive to be appointed in the NHS. Under her leadership in 2017, Birmingham Women’s Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital joined together to become the very first Women’s and Children’s hospital Trust in Europe. Her passions are exceeding the expectations of patients and families, and making Birmingham Women’s and Children’s the very best place to work and be cared for.
Michelle McLoughlin, Chief Nursing Officer
Michelle first joined Birmingham Children’s Hospital as a Specialist Liaison Nurse in 1991, focusing on the care and treatment of children with complex needs. In this role, Michelle’s focus was to ensure a prompt discharge into the community and a safe transition of her patients into the hands of the West Midlands community teams. Progressing to Department Manager, Assistant Director of Nursing and then Chief Nurse in 2007, Michelle combines her leadership skills with her clinical knowledge to put women, children, young people and families at the centre of what we do.
Dr Fiona Reynolds, Chief Medical Officer
Fiona originally trained as an anaesthetist before deciding to embark on a career in paediatric intensive care. Having previously spent time at the Children’s Hospital as a junior doctor in the 1990s, Fiona returned in 2001 as a Consultant Intensivist. As Chief Medical Officer, Fiona’s research interests included resuscitation and capacity modelling in PICU, while continuing clinical work. Fiona also has led several region-wide projects, including the implementation of the hospital’s major trauma centre service.
Theresa Nelson, Chief Officer for Workforce Development
Theresa joined the NHS in 2003 following a long career with Marks and Spencer. She has extensive workforce development experience, having previously held a national role as lead for Clinical Leadership at the Department of Health and continues to champion leadership development through her regional roles. Theresa is passionate about creating cultures where staff experience really matters while delivering high-quality care for women, children and families.
Sam Dhillon, Estates Capital Projects Manager
Sam has worked for the NHS for almost 19 years, having started off as a library assistant and then moved into Estates as a PA for a Project Director. This led to her being a Project Assistant then progressing to a Commissioning Manager, while learning and picking up skills along the way. Sam has been with the Trust over four and a half years now, working on Capital Schemes with the most recent being the Ophthalmology Waiting Area. She manages the Trust’s Measured Term Contractor and other contractors that come to site to carry out various work. While her department is perceived to be a male profession, Sam enjoys her varied role and has learnt a lot from her colleagues.
Dr Florentina Sava, Pre-registered Clinical Scientist
Florentina works in our Genetics Laboratory, one of the Genomic Medicine Centres for the 100K Genome Project, at the Women’s Hospital as a Pre-registered Clinical Scientist, having previously studied at the University of Barcelona, Oklahoma University and Semmelweis University. Florentina analyses the DNA of national and international patients who suffer from rare and developmental disorders by using cutting-edge technology. She recently received the Special Distinction for Exceptional Academic and Extracurricular Results at the Highest Level from the League of Romanian Students Abroad (LSRS). The prestigious accolade recognises her research and clinical work in human molecular genetics and immunology, and highlights the global impact our Trust really has. Her goal is to actively support, improve and to transform patient care within our Trust and worldwide.
Alia Murtaza, Neurosurgery Ward Manager
Alia has been a dedicated staff member of our Children’s Hospital for 15 years now, when she joined as a newly-qualified staff nurse on Ward 10 (Neurosurgery). In 2010, Alia was made Ward Manager continuing clinical shifts treating patients as well as office based managerial work. Ward 10 is a specialist ward, treating patients with a range of conditions including neuro-rehab, neurosurgery, epilepsy and craniofacial. In 2016, Alia won Best Boss in our Star Awards for her dedication and compassion to her team as well as her patients.
Jo Vaughan, Medical Secretaries Manager
With 28 years’ service with the Women’s Hospital, Jo is very familiar face to many across the hospital. After initially starting as a temporary secretary, she loved the job and never left, now managing a team of medical secretaries. Jo loves working for the Women’s and having that patient contact, often medical secretaries can be the first point of contact for patients and so they have to be caring and good listeners. Jo is also one of our Trust’s Inclusivity Practitioners, she is part of a team who help to ensure that our organisation is inclusive and that we celebrate diversity. Jo is also a staunch supporter of International Women’s Day and will be calling on her colleagues to #PressforProgress this International Women’s Day.
Vicky Jones, Painter
Vicky works as a painter with our Estates Team at our Women’s Hospital. She helps to look after every part of our hospital to help keep our areas looking their best. Vicky has been a painter with the Estates team for the past three years after previously working as a Housekeeper. Vicky told us that she adores painting and decorating, so this is her dream job. She loves working as part of a team and as the only female member of the team, she is well supported by her team.