HMT Sancta Maria Hospital has appointed a new Head of Clinical Services to provide clinical leadership to the team and to enhance the hospital’s high standards of quality and care delivery as it makes its transition to a new purpose-built facility in SA1 in the Autumn next year. Sara Jones joins the hospital’s senior leadership team in this role and will also assume responsibility as Deputy Hospital Director.
Sara has more than 30 years’ experience in the healthcare sector in Wales having previously held roles with the former Swansea NHS Trust, the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and at Welsh Government in the Office of the Chief Nurse.
She trained at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where she began her career as a Registered Nurse working in Accident & Emergency Services. Upon returning to Wales, she qualified as a Registered Midwife and was amongst the first midwives in the UK to undertake the Diploma in Advanced Midwifery Practice.
Sara became the Clinical Lead/Supervisor of Midwives for the former Carmarthenshire NHS Trust. She successfully established new models of clinical care, with a clear focus on the quality of care and service user experience.
Sara won a full scholarship to undertake the Executive Leadership Programme, graduating with a Masters in Science with the University College of Medicine Wales/Cardiff University. Sara became a Director of Nursing with Swansea NHS Trust in 1999, and has since then held several clinical Board level positions as an NHS Executive Director in Unscheduled Care & Emergency services. She is one of the few nurses sponsored by Welsh Government to undertake the Executive Leadership Education Programme at Harvard Kennedy School of Business, Boston, USA.
Commenting on her appointment, Sara said:
“I am delighted to join HMT Sancta Maria Hospital as it prepares to move into its new state-of-the-art facility in SA1. I have a particular interest and experience in successfully developing new clinical models, and in ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient centred care and patient engagement.
“I was particularly attracted to the role because of HMT’s reputation and charitable status. The charity invests and supports the local community, medical research and also key causes throughout Wales and the UK. I have had a great welcome from the team and I am thoroughly enjoying my role. I am confident that my previous experience and track record will enable me to make a key contribution to the team that HMT has now established”.
Hospital Director, Geoff Bailey, adds:
“I’m thrilled to have Sara on board on Sancta Maria and I want to welcome her to the HMT family. Her proven track record and considerable leadership experience will be of great benefit to us and ultimately to all patients who pass through the doors both here at our Uplands hospital and in the future as we move to SA1. Since becoming hospital director earlier this year, I have made a number of key appointments to strengthen the team and improve the overall offering of the hospital and Sara’s appointment has been crucial as we work together the shape the strategic direction of the hospital and guide the team through this transitional period.”
Work on the new Sancta Maria Hospital, which is located between Fabian Way and Langdon Road in SA1, began in March this year. The structure is now above ground level and the hospital is due to open in Autumn 2020. It will offer state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment including an MRI scanner, digital x-ray and fluoroscopy unit.
