The chief officer of NHS Southport and Formby CCG has reached 35 years of service at the NHS and is marking the occasion in several ways.

Fiona Taylor, who joined the NHS in 1982 the age of 17, has recently become Trustee of St Ann’s Hospice in Manchester and has also joined the board of Advancing Quality Alliance (AQUA).

Talking about reaching this momentous occasion Fiona said: “I can’t believe it’s been 35 years, it has flown by but I have to say I’ve enjoyed every minute. I do honestly love coming to work and regularly tell my colleagues that I enjoy what I do because I am so passionate about working for the NHS. It’s not always easy and I’m the first to say that but I have loved all the experiences I have had over the years in various roles and am proud to say I have been with the NHS for 35 years.

“I am very much looking forward to working with St Ann’s Hospice, they do a fantastic job and fingers crossed I can support them in key decision making and help to make a difference. It’s also great to be working with AQuA, at the forefront of transforming safety and quality in healthcare across the North West and I am looking forward to working with them on a more formal basis alongside my chief officer role of course.”

Fiona started her career in the NHS in Salford as a registered general nurse before going on to become a midwife and health visitor. Between 1990 and 1992 Fiona worked as a paediatric liaison health visitor leading service redesign before moving from a clinical role into management.

In 1999, Fiona left Salford to become deputy director of nursing and then acting director of nursing in Mancunian Community Health Trust, later joining Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT) in 2001. Since then, Fiona has worked at director level and held a variety of roles and portfolios, including acting chief executive of Bradford City Teaching PCT. In 2012 Fiona was appointed chief officer of the two CCG’s in Sefton so has been in that role for five years now.

St Ann’s Hospice cares and helps thousands of patients (over the age of 16) and their families and carers every year who are affected by cancer and non-cancer life limiting illnesses. The staff deliver care that is special and unique to each individual person. Around 40% of inpatients at St Ann’s Hospice return home after treatment.

The Advancing Quality Alliance (AQuA) was established in 2010 to improve health and care quality in the North West. It has over 70 member organisations who it works with on a long term basis.