West Suffolk Hospital's executive chief nurse Rowan Procter announces she is standing down
The executive chief nurse at West Suffolk Hospital has announced she is standing down after more than four years in the role.
Rowan Procter, who has been a nurse for more than 20 years, first joined the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) in 2000 as children's ward manager after specialising in paediatric nursing care.
After holding other healthcare roles across Suffolk, she returned to the trust in 2015 as executive chief nurse.
She will be taking up the role of director of care and support at the Orwell Housing Association - a position she hopes to take up in June.
“It has been a great honour to represent my profession at this level, and I am proud of the achievements nursing at WSFT has made against what has, at times, been a challenging backdrop," she said.
“When I first started working for the NHS 20 years ago I could not have imagined the rewarding career that lay ahead of me.
"It has been a very difficult decision to choose to move on to pastures new, as I’ve been lucky enough to work with a truly amazing team of nurses, midwives, nursing assistants, allied health professionals and clinical practitioners. Seeing them use their empathy, skill and expertise to care for people has been a privilege."
Since re-joining the trust, Rowan has supported nursing teams through the transition to an electronic patient record system.
She also worked on the trust's award-winning student nurse placement programme and supported more than 1,000 members of nursing staff.
“I am really excited to be able to take my knowledge and experience of nursing in the NHS and use it in my new role," she said.
"Orwell has some ambitious plans for the future and I am looking forward to being a part of the great work it is renowned for.”
She added: “I’d like to say a huge thank you to all staff, nursing and otherwise, who do an incredible job every single day, and who have worked so hard to help make positive changes for patients in what have sometimes been very challenging times. Keep on caring.”
Stephen Dunn, chief executive of WSFT, said: “On behalf of everyone at the Trust, I want to thank Rowan for her drive, determination and unwavering patient-focused approach. She has impacted on so many staff and patients’ lives during her time here.
“Rowan has always been passionate about nursing and the difference that good quality nurse care can make to real people. We are really sad to see her go, but this is a tremendous opportunity for her in which we are sure she will thrive.
"Orwell’s gain is absolutely our loss, and we give Rowan our warmest wishes for the future.”
An interim director of nursing will be appointed while recruitment takes place for a permanent director.
