NHS group appoints new chief nursing officer

An NHS organisation that manages community and acute hospital services in Shropshire has appointed a new group chief nursing officer.

Martina Morris will join Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Community and Hospitals NHS Group in June.

She is currently site and deputy group chief nursing officer at The Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust and Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust.

Morris had almost 30 years of nursing and leadership experience, health bosses in Shropshire said.

Originally from Slovakia, where she began her nursing career, she qualified as an adult nurse in 1994.

She then worked in intensive care and operating theatres and moved to the UK in 1998.

"Martina's experience, authenticity and compassion for patients and colleagues shines through," said group chief executive Jo Williams.

"[Her] leadership and values will empower our colleagues to accelerate our quality, education and cultural improvement, as we strive towards excellence for our communities."

Morris said her family used the services, and that she had seen firsthand how caring and compassionate her new colleagues were.

"Ensuring staff are supported, empowered and equipped to be the best version of themselves to deliver the best care for our patients and the communities we serve is very important to me.

"I am truly looking forward to being part of the team."

She added that she was keen to ensure the organisation listened to patients and the communities it served.

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