A former children’s nurse and NHS trust leader has been appointed to lead the Welsh health service, it has been announced.
Jacqueline Totterdell has today been named as new NHS Wales chief executive and director general of health, social care and early years.
“I’m really looking forward to working with everyone to make a real difference for people in Wales”
Jacqueline Totterdell
Ms Totterdell is currently group chief executive of St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group, a role she spoke to Nursing Times about last year.
She will succeed Judith Paget, who will, later this year, take up a new post in the Welsh Government as director general for strategy. Ms Totterdell is expected to assume her new position in the autumn.
After completing her training at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Ms Totterdell qualified as a combined general and children’s nurse in 1986.
She embarked on a career in children’s nursing and, in 1992, was recruited to help open a paediatric intensive care unit at Leeds General Infirmary.
Ms Totterdell took her first step into general management at Leeds and subsequently left the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register around 25 years ago to pursue a career as an NHS manager full time.
With the country’s first strategic nursing workforce plan having just been published, and the potential for nurse strikes on the horizon, she will join the Welsh NHS at a turbulent time.
“After a long career in the NHS, having the opportunity to lead health and social care services in Wales is something very special,” she said, following the announcement.
“Joined-up services that achieve better outcomes for the citizens and communities we serve is a vision that most of us who work in the public sector aspire to,” she said.
Jacqueline Totterdell while a nurse
“Being able to improve services on a whole-country level is what attracted me to this role and I’m really looking forward to working with everyone to make a real difference for people in Wales.”
Ms Totterdell paid tribute to her current colleagues. “Leaving [the trust] has not been an easy decision to make.
“Working alongside my wonderful colleagues has been one of the greatest privileges of my professional life,” she said.
“Their commitment, resilience, compassion and drive to improve care, often in the most challenging of circumstances, has inspired me every day.”
Jeremy Miles, cabinet secretary for health and social care, said: “I am very pleased that Jacqueline Totterdell will be joining us, bringing with her a wealth of experience in the healthcare sector and an impressive track record at St George’s.
“I look forward to working with Jacqueline as we focus on delivery and improvement and help the NHS adapt for the future.
“This includes building on the progress we’re making in Wales on waiting times, and to go further, to deliver the faster access to treatment that people in Wales want.”
Mr Miles added his well wishes to the outgoing Ms Paget: “Judith has been at the helm during an extraordinary period for the NHS, and I wish her all the best for her new role.”
