Heartbeat: Hello my name is… Julie Thompson
August 20, 2019
Returning to the SWB family after eight years, we would like to give a warm welcome to Julie Thompson, our new Group Director of Nursing for Medicine and Emergency Care.
Julie started her career at City Hospital in 1979. She left briefly to follow a career in critical care in Coventry before returning to City Hospital to work on the West Midlands Poisons unit as a ward manager: “I then set up the first medical assessment unit at City and completed my master’s degree in advanced clinical practice,” Julie told Heartbeat.
Her next step was to become one of the first matrons when the role was re-introduced by the Government.
“It was an interesting time,” Julie reminisced. “We initially were given red jackets which made us the butt of many jokes!
“I was then offered an excellent opportunity to work on the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Review. I left in 2011 to work in Burton as head nurse for medicine and emergency care, a role I did for three years. During this time I set up a frailty team at the front door, innovated and delivered an enhanced care team for the care of patients with cognitive impairments which I rolled out to 12 trusts across the country.
“The opportunity to return to SWB was too good to pass by. I knew it would be a good place to complete my career back where it all began.”
Julie’s role is to lead on nursing and to ensure that the medicine and emergency care group deliver high quality, safe care to our patients.
She said: “It is also about developing and empowering nursing teams to be the best they can be and to enjoy coming to work. It involves working with teams across all groups and supporting and advising when nursing expertise is required. It also means I have to provide assurance to the executive team regarding nursing and patient care and safety. An element of this is surrounding patient journeys from the front door to the discharge home.
“I feel positive and look forward to the challenges that are ahead especially the move into Midland Met.”
In her spare time Julie enjoys cycling and taking part in cycling events. She loves to travel and is currently learning Spanish. She added: “I also enjoy time with my three beautiful grandchildren. I also fit in three hours of voluntary work a week to support those in need.”