Wave goodbye to…

Julie Thompson

Group Director of Nursing for Medicine and Emergency Care

Following this, Julie left us for a short period of time to complete her orthopaedic training at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital followed by a brief stint at the George Eliot Hospital within critical care.

“I returned ‘home’ so to speak following my role at George Eliot Hospital to work on the poisons unit as a ward manager at City Hospital, said Julie."

“I was then fortunate enough to be successful in gaining my position where I would have the privilege to set up and open the MAU at Citynow known as AMU.” all. However, having such a close and hardworking team around me enabled us all to get through it and meet the challenge.”

If Julie was to give any career advice to her younger self or others just starting out their journeys as nurses she said: “I would urge everyone to be professionally curious however always follow your instincts as those more experienced than you are not always right in every situation.”

After a nursing career which spans well over four decades, Julie Thompson, Group Director of Nursing for Medicine and Emergency Care, will be retiring.

Julie started out her nursing training at the old Dudley Road Hospital in 1979 and following her training worked on D6 which at the time was a female orthopaedic ward.

Julie didn’t stop there, as she would go on to complete her masters in advanced clinical practice working before becoming matron. Further down the line in after a short spell at Derby and Burton Hospitals, Julie made a triumphant return as group director of nursing for medicine and emergency care, a position she has held for over four years including during one of the most challenging times within the NHS, the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked about the pandemic specifically, Julie said: “It has to be one of the biggest challenges I have faced during my nursing career. The distress it bought with it to not only patients but also to staff and colleagues was unimaginable, and nothing could have prepared me personally for the enormity of it

She added: “Another thing often overlooked but is so important is to make sure you are passionate about what you do and get great satisfaction and enjoyment in giving care to others.”

Julie has had an illustrious nursing career: but don’t just take our word for it. Debi Fretwell, Group Director of Nursing, has worked closely with Julie at SWB and said: “I have worked with Julie for the last four years, she is an amazing advocate for patients and staff and never afraid to speak up. Her passion for quality and safety is always a priority. She has been such an asset to the Trust and has inspired many!”

As part of her retirement Julie plans to spend more time with her loved ones and hopes to travel more often when possible.

Thank Julie for your service to the NHS and happy retirement!

This month we extend a warm welcome to Simon Mitchell, our new Group Director for the primary care, communities and therapies group. Simon brings a wealth of experience and expertise to our organisation, and we are excited to have him on board.

Prior to joining our Trust, Simon served as the executive partner for 'Your Health Partnership’, our Trust’s primary care network in Sandwell, where he continues to be involved in the care of 53,000 patients. In all Simon has been a GP in Sandwell for over 25 years.

Having previously held the role of director of Sandwell Primary Care Trust, Simon has developed exceptional working relationships with fellow GPs and hospital consultants. His commitment to creating sustainable GP practices, balancing medical advances and increasing life spans with quality of life and appropriate medication, has been pivotal in providing the best possible care to patients.

Simon has witnessed first-hand the changing landscape of medicine, where patients now require treatment for multiple serious conditions simultaneously, and his expertise in managing complex medical histories will be invaluable to our organisation.

Many of you may already be familiar with Simon, as he has been one of the exceptional

Simon Mitchell, Group Director of PCCT GPs responsible for overseeing the care of patients in our medically fit for discharge wards at Rowley Regis Hospital. His dedication to ensuring patients' wellbeing and his leadership in providing GP cover has for a long time made a significant impact on the quality of care we offer.

Aside from his clinical responsibilities, Simon has always been at the forefront of innovation when it comes to healthcare. He

Simon Mitchell Group Director of PCCT

has successfully combined routine surgeries, sudden emergencies, planned care, community ward rounds, and management of a large GP practice. Moreover, Simon piloted 'consultation by Skype' well before the COVID-19 pandemic; his efforts in developing digital technology encouraged GPs to adopt similar practices.

Simon's professional journey has been filled with remarkable experiences. He served as a doctor in the military for seven years, including a deployment to Northern Ireland in the early 1990s. In 2004, he embarked on a mission to recruit physician associates from the United States to support clinicians in our area, an initiative that ultimately brought valuable colleagues to our Trust. Simon's dedication to enhancing our healthcare workforce and expanding opportunities for healthcare professionals is truly commendable.

Outside of his medical career, Simon describes himself as an average runner and a worse golfer! He also enjoys spending time with his family and finds solace in Scotland or Greece when he needs to unwind.

With Simon’s extensive experience, leadership, and commitment to providing exceptional care we are confident in his guidance and ability to provide invaluable transformative direction, making a real impact on our organisation. Welcome to the Trust Simon.