South West Project Manager

Joanna joined the Patients Association in late summer 2011 as part time Project Manager working one day a week in support of the South West projects. Joanna recently retired from the NHS, having worked at regional and national levels for the last 15 years of her career, most recently as Head of Primary Care and Specialist Programmes (which included design for safety, PEAT, cleaning, human factors, and nutrition and hydration) with the National Patient Safety Agency.

Joanna qualified as a general nurse, a theatre nurse, a midwife, a health visitor, and held a short service commission as a Nursing Officer in Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service. She has a First Class B.A. Honours degree in Health Studies; a Masters degree in Policy Studies and a post-graduate diploma in Research Methods.

Joanna says that ‘Being a hospital out-patient and in-patient on a couple of occasions recently has given me far more insight into what really matters to patients and their carers than all my previous work experience and education. I’m determined to bring that understanding to my current role with the Patients Association’.