Sandra has experience to head new-look management team
SANDRA Jones has celebrated 40 years in the medical profession by taking over as clinical director of hospice services at East Cheshire Hospice.
Sandra is part of a new-look clinical managerial team which includes medical director Dr Debbie Alexander and Sarah Dale, clinical director for East Cheshire Hospice @Home.
The changes come following the departure of clinical and operations director Helen Knight, who became chief executive at Wirral Hospice in August.
Karyn Johnston, income generation and support services director at East Cheshire Hospice, said: “Helen’s departure gave us an opportunity to look at how we might do things differently. There is now a broader team involved and we have a more strategic approach.”
Sandra joined the hospice three years ago, her first role at the charity coming in 2009 as a Bank nurse at the Sunflower Centre. Sandra said: “I’d always wanted to work at the hospice but there wasn’t a permanent role available when I first came here.
“My first full-time role was as a ward sister. I later became Unit Manager for the Sunflower Centre and then took on the added responsibility of managing the Inpatient Unit.
“The quality of care here is second to none and we have an excellent clinical team. Nothing is too much trouble and staff are always prepared to go the extra mile.
“People still have a misconception, thinking they’re coming here to die, but many patients visit for symptom and pain management and return home again.”
After training at Macclesfield General Hospital, Sandra worked at Manchester Royal Infirmary and The Christie. She was also a research nurse at AstraZeneca, working on clinical trials with oncology drugs.