Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of Deborah Kelly to the post of Chief Nurse.
Following a thorough recruitment process and a number of very strong candidates, Deborah Kelly joined the Trust as Chief Nurse on 1 August 2020.
The role has an especially key part to play now as the Trust continues its ground-breaking progress in providing integrated seamless, high-quality care to its communities – from hospital to home and beyond.
Deborah has recently returned from the Middle East, where she was Deputy Chief Nurse and Chief Nurse for Informatics at Sidra Medicine, Doha Qatar. Sidra Medicine is a greenfield site that activated in 2018 as the tertiary paediatric Trauma Centre for Qatar, providing tertiary services to women and children (400 beds) across Qatar and the Gulf Co-operation Council.
An experienced nurse, Deborah has previously held board level posts in the NHS and was Deputy Chief Nurse for Barts Health NHS Trust from 2014 to 2017.
Announcing the appointment, Sir Richard Ibbotson, Chairman of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Following a rigorous recruitment process I am delighted that Deborah has been appointed to this role.
“She has varied and highly relevant experience in many aspects of health care, including supporting the setting up of a national specialist centre for women and children services and playing a key role at a renowned, busy London Trust hospital.
“We believe Deborah’s proven experience and leadership, along with her commitment and passion to provide the very best care, will take us on the next stage of our vision for our population.”
Liz Davenport, Chief Executive of the Trust, said: “Deborah’s appointment comes at an important time as we continue the latest stage in our transformation of services across acute hospital and community care, truly integrating health and care services.
“Deborah has demonstrated the perfect combination of compassionate care for her patients and innovative thinking, creativity and a passion for excellence. I am convinced she will help ensure continuity of the highest standards of professional practice amidst this period of change.”
Deborah said: “I am very proud and excited to join Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust as Chief Nurse. To join an organisation that has led the way in delivering innovative, high quality of care for patients is a tremendous opportunity.
“I am passionately committed to building meaningful partnerships with patients and staff across health and social care, ensuring we continue to build a culture of inclusivity and opportunity for all, ultimately united and aligned in our efforts to achieve the very best experience and outcomes for patients.”
Liz Davenport added: “At the same time, we say a very fond farewell to Jane Viner, who retired as Chief Nurse at the end of July. Jane is well known and valued for her professional integrity, her championing of staff and service users, and for the huge contribution she has made to integrating services across Torbay and South Devon. We wish Jane well as she embarks on new adventures.”
