Queen Victoria Hospital appoints new nursing head

Nicky Reeves, has been appointed interim director of nursing and quality at Queen Victoria Hospital (QVH). A registered nurse, Nicky has held the role of deputy director of nursing at the hospital for the last five years, and joined QVH 15 years ago as the burns centre manager.

As interim director of nursing and quality she will provide nursing leadership at Board level. Nicky takes over from Jo Thomas who has retired after 37 years in nursing and five years as director of nursing.

National surveys show that QVH is consistently rated by patients amongst the top hospitals in the country for quality of care. The results of the latest national NHS inpatient survey released in July showed that QVH continued to achieve some of the best feedback from patients in the country, and was one of only five acute specialist trusts to have consistently maintained the highest rating over the last six years.

In 2019, Care Quality Commission hospital inspectors rated QVH as ‘Good’ with ‘Outstanding’ care. QVH treats around 87,000 patients a year.

Commenting on her appointment, Nicky Reeves said: “I’m excited to take on the role as interim director of nursing and quality at QVH. I look forward to working with the Board and with all our clinicians and support staff to further enhance patient care and experience.”

Steve Jenkin, Queen Victoria Hospital Chief Executive said: “I am delighted to welcome Nicky to the role as our interim director of nursing and quality. Nicky has over 35 years nursing experience both here at QVH and in other trusts, and is committed to delivering outstanding patient and staff experience. We are confident she will continue to help us maintain and further develop our reputation for outstanding patient care.

“As the second smallest trust in the country QVH is considering a possible merger with the new trust to be formed by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (BSUH) and Western Sussex Hospitals; the appointment is therefore to an interim post and we were very lucky to have such a strong internal candidate for the role.

“I would also like to thank Jo Thomas for all that she has done for QVH and our patients in her time as our director of nursing, including successfully leading us through two CQC inspections. We wish her well for her retirement and know that Nicky will build on all the excellent work that Jo has carried out over the past five years.”

For more information contact the QVH Press Office at qvh.communications@nhs.net.

You can read more about why QVH thinks change is needed and how a merger could address some of the challenges that it faces here https://tinyurl.com/yxnu9vtu.