South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Executive Director of Quality and Nursing.
Robert Nicholls will join the Trust in February replacing current Director, Bethan Eaton-Haskins, who announced her decision to leave the Trust earlier this year.
A nurse since 1993, Robert has held a number of senior roles in the NHS, most recently in his current position as Director of Nursing Division of Medicine and Integrated Care at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.
Prior to this he was seconded to the role of Programme Director of Clinical Workforce at Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) and he has held a variety of deputy director of nursing and deputy chief nurse roles at NHS organisations including North Somerset Community Partnership and Medway NHS Foundation Trust.
He is a member of the Chief Nursing Officer for England male BAME advisory group, supporting the Chief Nursing Officer on the national equality, diversity and inclusion agenda.
In his role for SECAmb, Robert will be responsible for all matters connected to the quality agenda, lead a wide variety of specialist teams and as well as the increasingly powerful cadre of nurses supporting the Trust’s 111 and 999 services.
SECAmb Chief Executive, Philip Astle said: “I am really pleased we have been able to appoint such a strong candidate to this important role. I would also like to thank Bethan for her dedication since she joined us in 2018 and in particular, for her expertise and leadership during the COVID pandemic.
“Robert brings a great deal of experience with him across a variety of senior NHS roles and I am certain this will be of huge benefit to SECAmb and its strong Executive Team and Trust Board. I would like to take this opportunity to formally welcome him ahead of him joining us in February. I look forward to working closely with him in the months and years ahead.”
Robert said: I am delighted to be offered such a privileged position and I am really looking forward to working with my executive and non-executive colleagues and our people who work diligently to deliver an exceptional emergency service across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.”