Chief Executive announced for Ashgate Hospicecare marking 30th anniversary
Ashgate Hospicecare has announced the appointment of Barbara-Anne Walker as the charity’s new Chief Executive.
The Chesterfield-based hospice works to provide specialist palliative and end of life care to local people and their families across North Derbyshire and the High Peak and Dales and is proud to be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.
The charity which has grown rapidly in the last five years, responding to the growth in demand from patients who are living with a life-limiting illness, wanted to secure an exceptional leader to continue its success in delivering excellent clinical services, and to uphold the Outstanding rating given to them by the CQC in 2015.
Barbara-Anne, formerly an Operations Director with the British Red Cross, joins Ashgate Hospicecare with 30 years’ experience within the voluntary and public sectors throughout the UK.
Jean Horton, Chair of the Board of Trustees at Ashgate Hospicecare, comments:-
“The Board of Trustees is absolutely delighted with the appointment of Barbara-Anne as our new Chief Executive.
“She has a proven track record of being a very successful senior leader, and her skills and experience are exactly what we need to lead our Hospice.
“Her passion about the work done by Ashgate Hospicecare and palliative end of life provision makes her determined to develop our services so we can reach as many people as possible who need our quality specialist care and support.”
Barbara-Anne began her career in the third-sector working in HIV and sexual health services; she has held management roles at Macmillan Cancer and British Red Cross and until recently she was Deputy Chair of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust.
Barbara-Anne said:-
“I am thrilled to join Ashgate Hospicecare in this 30th anniversary year. It’s a real privilege to become the Chief Executive of one of Derbyshire’s most cherished charities and to work with such a committed and special team of staff and volunteers. Their compassion and the warmth of their welcome shines through everything they do.
“For 30 years Ashgate has grown and developed services in the hospice and in the community to meet the needs of people with life-limiting illnesses. We are blessed with the support of many local people who give up their time to volunteer for the hospice and to raise the vital funds that we need every day to provide our services, including many generous donations from local businesses. I am passionate about making sure that Ashgate continues to be at the heart of the local community, whose generosity and goodwill has enabled us to respond to their needs and to provide outstanding care.
“There are exciting opportunities to build on the achievements of the last 30 years to take Ashgate Hospicecare into the future, putting patients and their loved ones at the centre of everything that we do. We know that there are still people who need hospice care, whom we are not yet able to reach. I am looking forward to working with my Ashgate team to ensure that we are able to provide our care and support to everyone who needs us.”
Roger Start, Consultant Histopathologist and Clinical Director of Pathology at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Ashgate Hospicecare Trustee, said:-
“I am delighted that Barbara-Anne is joining us as our new Chief Executive. She has worked for some of the biggest charities in the UK and I’m confident she will lead the further development of our vital services so that we can help more of our community who need us.”
