Press Release from Earl Mountbatten Hospice and NHS Isle of Wight

Continuing the close relationship NHS Isle of Wight has with the Island’s Hospice, Tina Harris, formerly an Associate Director in the NHS on the Island, has taken up her new post as Chief Executive at Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

Tina is closely involved in Island life and says: "It is important to me to truly believe in what I do and to know that it contributes in some way to the Island community. I am thrilled to be a part of the future of the Earl Mountbatten Hospice and am enthusiastic about joining staff and volunteers in sustaining and building on the excellent work of the Hospice in providing the best possible care for our patients."

Tina, who originally hails from the north of England, but has lived on the Island since 1984 was the Associate Director at NHS Isle of Wight responsible for the Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention (QIPP) and Reform programme that is driving the Island’s NHS towards becoming an NHS Trust like other providers of health services in England. Tina Joined the NHS in 2000 after working for the Isle of Wight Council for 16 years in residential and day services for children, adults and older people. In the NHS prior to her most recent position Tina worked in the areas of medicine, mental health and learning disability services. Tina lives in West Wight with her five teenage children and is a member of the Governing body at the Isle of Wight College.

NHS Isle of Wight has close links with the Hospice and many clinical staff – nurses and doctors – working at the Hospice are employed by the PCT. Karen Baker, Chief Operating Officer at NHS Isle of Wight comments, "Tina has made a significant contribution to the NHS on the Island in both the mental health and our team looking at the sustainability of health services on the Island. Now she is moving on to take the helm at one of our most important partners. Whilst the care provided by the NHS to patients in the terminal stages of illness is good we know that many patients would prefer to die at home or somewhere other than hospital. With the support of Earl Mountbatten Hospice we are reviewing arrangements for End of Life Care and hope we can increase the number of patients whose preferences can be met."