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Claire's HCA UK Story
Taking teaching further
Claire has brought both nursing and lecturing experience to her role as Chief Nursing Officer at HCA UK. From building dedicated early careers programs to creating an exceptional experience for our patients, Claire shares her perspective and insight into leadership, patient care and the importance of development opportunities.
How long have you been working here?
I've been at HCA UK for two years now. Before that, I spent 35 years in the NHS as a Registered Nurse, including 10 years as a Lecturer at King’s College. So, it has been a varied career, but I’ve been able to bring all that experience into my role here.
How did you get started?
I've always worked in the London healthcare economy. I trained at Barts and subsequently held senior nursing posts at a number of London teaching hospitals including St George’s, Chelsea and Westminster and UCLH. For me it’s always been about going where I can get the most experience and make the biggest difference to people whether that’s patients or colleagues.
What’s your role and what do you do day-to-day?
I work out of the London Bridge and Lister hospitals. My role is about leading our nursing and pharmacy teams, raising professional standards and at a top level, making sure patients receive the very best care. It’s a balance between the day-to-day mentoring and managing and the overall strategy and big picture stuff. As an operational lead, literally everything and anything can come my way. It could be staffing, safeguarding or celebrating our wonderful people in terms of recognition, rewards and initiatives.
What do you enjoy the most?
I suppose you would expect someone who's a nurse to say it is about looking after patients and people at their most vulnerable. That’s part of it, but the most important thing for me now, is my team. I like that I have a very people-oriented role where I can focus on our colleagues and their potential. It's more about how you draw out those opportunities where people’s skills and passion are put to their best use and given the attention to thrive.
Can you tell us about the people you work with?
The teams here are extraordinary. We have some of the best clinicians and our nursing staff are incredibly dedicated. The London Bridge Hospital is a flagship facility, and it has a real investment in developing people and letting their talents shine. We really do get some skilled and inspiring people to work alongside every day. There’s also a strong sense of trust within the team. People feel comfortable sharing challenges, and we work together to find the answers. I always say leadership is about managing complexity in times of uncertainty, but it’s always the team around you that makes that possible.
Have you taken advantage of your benefits?
Sure. The health benefits here are massive. It’s not just about having the health insurance if you need it, it’s also about having access to screening that we know as health care professionals can be quite literally lifesaving. There are other less obvious benefits. For example, I’ve also been able to take part in key leadership programs. I completed the Leading-Edge program which trains leaders at HCA UK and also travelled to the U.S. to experience HCA’s outstanding programmes for those in leadership positions. We are of course a U.S company and that opens so many doors for those of us based in the UK. All of that was in my first eighteen months in the role, which is a testament to the commitment HCA UK has in its people.
“I’ve worked at many of the big teaching hospitals, and I think people recognise that ethos at HCA UK. It’s very high level, it’s complex at our sites, but it’s also supportive and people go out of their way to help each other. That’s what attracts the very best staff to HCA UK and it’s why patients expect the best in terms of care.”
Do you have any standout stories?
I’m often in awe of what people at HCA UK do. I’m more office based these days, but I’m still involved in developing some incredible projects from a management point of view as we partner with some of the country's leading clinicians. It’s my job to bring people with different, but equally phenomenal skill together and make sure everything is being done safely. People aren’t always aware that the independent health sector is doing research and other groundbreaking work, and within the company, it’s very important to be part of something that’s breaking new ground. Equally, we set as much importance on the small details for our patients and their families, with ‘service’ at the very core of everything we do. That kindness and compassion is at the core of all our work and makes me very proud.
What makes you stay at HCA UK?
There are so many things. It’s the people. It’s the exceptional level of care being provided. But I suppose as well as that it’s the sheer variety of projects I’m involved in and the pace at which things happen here and the fact that I can see colleagues progress in their career. I really feel like HCA UK is a great place for people grow and be the very best they can be. That’s where I want to be.
What’s next for you?
With my background in education, I believe personal and professional development is everything. As I develop in this role, I’m thinking more and more about how we provide not just jobs, but real career pathways. Right now, I’m focused on building out an early careers program for our ward-based staff. We already have fantastic programs for nurses, but we’re expanding for other areas so we can offer colleagues an outstanding learning environment. I’m looking forward to bringing in new ways to support people across the care continuum.
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