ASHGATE HOSPICE - Key Persons
I've been Chief Executive of Ashgate Hospice since December 2017. I am responsible for everything that we do and for making sure that we achieve our strategic ambitions. It's inspiring to see the passion and dedication our staff and volunteers bring to playing their part in making our care possible. I love working for Ashgate, it's a real privilege.
I have worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years and have had an interest in palliative and end of life care since my early career when I worked with people affected by HIV. I have managed services providing support for people with long-term conditions, including leading the national social care programme for Macmillan Cancer Support and as an Operations Director with the British Red Cross. I was a Non-Executive Director of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust for eight years. I'm Scottish, and Derbyshire has been my home for over 20 years.
I am Claire Pilsworth and I joined the hospice in July 2022. I currently work as a Senior Associate Solicitor at Irwin Mitchell LLP with over 20 years' experience. I specialise in brain and spinal cord injuries and understand the need for quality care, compassion and support when life can be at its toughest.
My mum and dad have both died of cancer and received hospice care in the past three years and I am very passionate about ensuring others have access to the same support my family did.
I am very proud to be a Trustee of Ashgate Hospice and I am looking forward to using the skills I have developed during my career to support the hospice moving forward.
Having lost friends and family to cancer recently, I am honoured to have this opportunity to support an important local hospice as a Patron.
I was born in Chesterfield and now live in London. I am a TV actress and have worked in classical theatre. I was invited to Ashgate Hospice's Leading Ladies lunch in 2014 where I spoke about my acting career and learned about the hospice and its vital services. I am very impressed by the care and ambition of its leaders and the generosity and heart of its supporters. I hope it continues to develop as it provides this crucial service.
I was Chesterfield Football Club's Manager from 2015 to 2017. Football has always been a big part of my life, I played for 18 years and was also a Football Manager of over 1,000 games from Premier League to League Two, including Sheffield United FC, Barnsley, Bristol, Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield.
Having lived in the Ashgate area for over 40 years and seeing many times first hand, the warmth, care and the undoubted expertise Ashgate Hospice staff purvey, I am very proud to be honoured with the chance to act as a Patron. Alongside Patron and friend Tony Nunn, I organise the Hospice's annual Ball.
David Hopkins is a local businessman with a number of business interests, most notably the Markovitz group, which he owns with his brother Robert. He is the Chairman of Buxton Football Club, encompassing their full-time education Academy in partnership with Buxton & Leek College and the University of Derby. Over and above his support for Ashgate, he founded the initiative #ChallengeDerbyshire, raising money for end-of-life-care in North Derbyshire with 50% of all money raised coming to the hospice.
David said "I started #ChallengeDerbyshire with the aim of raising £100,000 for the three main end of life care charities in North Derbyshire: Ashgate Hospice, Blythe House Hospicecare and Helen's Trust. We quickly exceeded this amount and now, having engaged other local businesses to get involved, the total raised is over £1.3million. At Markovitz we are very proud to cover all costs associated with running #ChallengeDerbyshire, in our belief that excellent end of life care should be an absolute right for our community and not just a ‘nice to have'.
I am delighted to be a patron of Ashgate Hospice, such a worthy local charity which we should all be doing our utmost to ensure is there for generations to come."
I trained as an accountant and qualified whilst living up in the North East, and then moved to Chesterfield with my wife and two daughters in 1988 to work for Royal Mail. Following a wide variety of finance roles across the UK, I moved to HR in 2003 to set up and run the largest HR Shared Service Centre in Europe. I remained there up to my retirement in 2017. Outside of my Royal Mail career, I have also worked with a wide variety of local organisations such as Surestart, Pathways, Business in the Community, East Midlands Ambulance Service, Bluebell Wood and the Ashgate Allotment Society. In 2020, I experienced first hand the wonderful help and support that another local hospice provided to a very close friend and her family. This further ignited my passion to help Ashgate Hospice build for the future.
Job Titles:
- Consultant in Palliative Medicine
I see patients in the hospice, in clinic and in their own homes. I enjoy the challenge of managing complex symptoms and situations. I also educate other health and social care professionals about palliative care.
My qualifications include a BMedSci in anaesthetics and MBChB. I am a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. I am also a Facilitator in Advanced Communication Skills Training and SAGE & THYME communication training.
I was a consultant in Anaesthetics and Pain Medicine, an anaesthetic subspecialty, in Chesterfield, and then subsequently in Sheffield, retiring from the NHS in 2003, at which time I was one of a few full time specialists in pain medicine and palliative care.
Qualifying at Barts in the 60's I spent time as assistant professor at McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Montreal, Canada, having a special interest in nerve blocks and pain relief methods.
In 1985 after the closure of Ashgate Annexe, with the support of North Derbyshire Health Authority requesting Trent Region not to sell it, I became Chairman of the appeal committee to convert it to a hospice. I became the first medical director when it opened in 1988 and am delighted at how Ashgate has broadened its services and become so well regarded in the community of Chesterfield and North Derbyshire, and indeed so well supported from so many quarters.
During my career I received honorary membership of the British Pain Society, and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland.
I was also an initial recipient of the Fellow of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (FFPMRCA) when it was given assent as a new specialty. I have contributed chapters to a number of textbooks, and had many research papers published.
In retirement I now enjoy being invited back to attend events and taking the opportunity to thank staff, volunteers and the public for their generous input, and admiring the wonderful expansion of services over the years. Indeed I am honoured to still be involved in some small way.
My main hobby is golf which includes helping with the annual Ashgate golf day organisation; also walking in the Peak District, skiing (carefully nowadays!), cooking, European travel, as well as organising social events and reunions. I am married to Barbara and I am very thankful for her support over the past 54 years. Together we have four children and nine grandchildren locally, and in Leeds, Birmingham and Dublin.
I joined Westfield Health, a not for profit health insurer based in Sheffield, as Chief Executive in 1985 after more than 20 years in personnel management and additionally became Chairman in 1995. I stepped down as Chief Executive in 2008 to concentrate on my role as Non-Executive Chairman and involvement with the Westfield Health Charitable Trust.
After retiring as Non Executive Chairman on Nov 20th 2020 I was honoured to be invited to be Hon Life President of Westfield Health retaining my interest in the Westfield Charitable Trust and Westfield British Transplant Games where I am Patron.
I am delighted and honoured to become a patron at Ashgate Hospice. It has been a privilege to support the charity in my role at Westfield and I will actively promote and raise the profile of this wonderful charity at every opportunity. Ashgate's services provide a real life-line for people at a time when they need supporting the most. It really is a wonderful charity and one that I am very proud to be associated with.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Patient Care
I have worked for Ashgate Hospice in my role since 2015 leading all our patient and family facing teams. I aim to ensure that our care is of the highest quality and is safe and effective. I am very proud of the care that Ashgate provides whether that's at the hospice or in the community of North Derbyshire. I have always championed and had a passion for providing high-quality care for patients and their loved ones at the end of their lives, and for those with life-limiting illnesses who need palliative care.
Before joining the hospice, I worked as a registered nurse for the NHS for 30 years. I worked in a wide variety of teams across hospitals, community care, as well as quality improvement within commissioning organisations. The last ten of those years were in senior management and leadership roles. During this time, I attended The Nye Bevan programme. This led to an NHS Leadership Academy award in Executive Healthcare Leadership.
IAN SNOW - Managing Director
Job Titles:
- Director
- MANAGING DIRECTOR
I am delighted to have been associated with Ashgate Hospice for many years. As a member of Soroptimist International of Chesterfield and District, I jointly led the fundraising to provide a conservatory for the hospice and to sponsor a room when Ashgate was extended. I have supported events and fundraising for many years.
This involvement led to an invitation to join the Board of Trustees - I have been Chair of the Fundraising Committee, Vice Chair and Chair of the Board of Trustees. All these opportunities have given me a greater knowledge and understanding of the work of our hospice.
My company GW Price was started over 115 years ago by my great grandfather and is a successful business selling fruit and produce. After a member of my family was cared for so well by Ashgate Hospice over two years ago, I thought it would be nice to give something back. I supplied all the produce for free between 2016 and 2020 to the Hospice. We support in other ways including providing the bananas for the Sparkle Night Walk and by sponsoring the drinks trolley at the Hospice.
We are committed to helping Ashgate Hospice in every way that we can, now and in the future. The team at the Hospice are some of the nicest people that I have ever had the privilege to work with and I urge you to help them too, so that they can continue their excellent work for generations to come.
I joined Ashgate Hospice as a Trustee at the end of 2022. I am a Senior Audit and Accounts Manager at Shorts Chartered Accountants. I am responsible for a portfolio of corporate and charity clients of varying sizes, assisting them in fulfilling their statutory duties to prepare and file accounts and carrying out statutory audits where required. I present accounts and audit findings to my clients and provide advice where necessary. I am a qualified Chartered Certified Accountant and hold a diploma in Charity Accounting. The work Ashgate Hospice does is invaluable, and they are very well regarded in the local community. I am extremely proud to be part of their story. Ashgate looked after my dad when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2020. I am bringing my professional background and my personal experience to the board in my role as Trustee - I can see things from a financial and strategic point of view as well as from the patient's and family's perspective, which will be helpful.
I joined Ashgate in 2020 during the second wave of COVID. I am passionate about end of life and palliative care, having supported my mum who died of breast cancer in 2019. I am currently the Director of Integration & Direct Services for Derby City Council, and an active member of the local NHS and social care "system" - known as Joined Up Care Derbyshire. My professional experience is as a Chief Officer within Local Government, as well as operational experience within the housing and homelessness sectors. I have previously been a Board Member for Framework Housing Association. I am also currently a Trustee of a small family support charity in Derby called Family Support Derbyshire.
I joined the Board of Trustees in January 2023 after working as the Chief Nurse and Director of Nursing and Patient Care at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Trust. I have been a Registered General Nurse with the NHS since 1981. I trained and worked in Scotland before moving to the Midlands in 1987. My clinical background is in General and Cardiac Intensive Care and my professional career has enabled me to work within acute care organisations at a national and regional level, including within Derbyshire for the last 10 years. I opted to start working part-time in 2020 to support my family and to allow me greater flexibility. I am currently a Non-Executive Director with Derbyshire Healthcare Trust. My senior nursing experience and wider family interactions with healthcare have enabled me to appreciate what safe, quality care means in times of need for compassionate and great patient care. I have a strong commitment and passion to improving the quality and experience for all patients and staff with the ethos of learning and open culture.
Job Titles:
- CERTIFIED CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT
- Director
I'm Malcolm Pope and I joined Ashgate Hospice as a Trustee in 2015.
I am one of nine Partners at Shorts Chartered Accountants, which has offices in both Chesterfield and Sheffield. I have been with the firm for more than 15 years. I specialise in presenting financial information to local owner-managed businesses in an easy-to-understand manner. I then use this information to help management make informed strategic decisions. I am a qualified Chartered Accountant and Auditor as well as a registered and approved coach for GrowthAccelerator.
I enjoy using the skills I have gained in my commercial career to contribute to the development of Ashgate Hospice.
Job Titles:
- Director of People, Engagement and Performance
I am responsible for Ashgate's people, our internal and external engagement and organisational performance. I support our HR, volunteering and learning and organisational development functions, as well as Marketing and Communication and Information Governance and Technology teams. My aim is to ensure Ashgate is a workplace where all our staff and volunteers feel safe and supported to be their authentic selves and are supported to fulfil their potential in developing and delivering outstanding care.
Before joining Ashgate, I worked as an independent HR consultant, working with further education and the third sector. I also held a variety of specialist and generalist HR roles in logistics, the NHS, the police and higher education. I am a Chartered Member of the CIPD and studied as a post-graduate in Sheffield.
I'm Nigel Myhill and I became a Trustee at Ashgate Hospice in January 2019.
My background is in Estates and Facilities for over 30 years within the NHS. I have also been a board-level Director since 2005, covering mental health, primary care and acute care. My last post in the NHS was Director of Estates and Facilities in a large integrated NHS Trust in London. I have also worked in the Australian health system. I now work part-time as a self-employed management consultant. I am a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Manager, my qualifications include MBA, MSc and BSc.
I am proud to be a Trustee of such a wonderful caring organisation and I hope to use my skills and experience to contribute to the Ashgate Hospice.
Job Titles:
- CLINICAL DIRECTOR
- Director
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Board of Trustees
I'm Penny Brooks and I joined Ashgate as a Trustee in 2014.
My background is as an experienced NHS Chief Nurse. I have worked for over 40 years within NHS Trusts, Foundation Trusts and commissioning organisations. I have held Board level positions since 2001, the most recent of which was as Chief Nurse of Sheffield Clinical Commissioning Group. I am also a trained Executive Coach and Mentor with an active interest in the education and training of the workforce to support the delivery of excellent services for patients. In December 2017, I retired from the NHS and now am a Director of an independent consultancy providing leadership development and coaching support to public sector organisations.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent successful treatment in 2012. I use my personal experience along with my clinical and professional background, within my role of Trustee. That role includes being a Vice-Chair and chairing the Healthcare Governance Committee. I really enjoy being part of such an amazing organisation and feel privileged that we have these services within our community.
Job Titles:
- Director of Income Generation
My teams are responsible for raising the income that we need over and above what we receive from the NHS. This includes money raised through our shops and coffee shops, fundraising and donations. We are continuously looking for new ways to raise money too. I am delighted to be able to play a role in helping the hospice continue its invaluable work. I want to ensure that Ashgate has the funds it needs to continue to support as many people as possible.
Before joining the hospice, I ran my own consultancy practice for over 15 years. This involved working with many voluntary and public sector organisations. I have also worked for charities, including the Royal Society of Nature Conservation, the Woodland Trust and the Holocaust Museum.
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Estates
I am responsible for Ashgate's finances as well as our estates and facilities. My aim is to ensure that we maximise the hospice's income and focus expenditure on the effective provision of our services.
I'm motivated by working for an organisation that makes a difference to people's lives. My previous role was in the charity sector, heading up the finance function for the Diocese of York. I am also a Trustee of my local church in Sheffield.
I joined the Board of Trustees in June 2022 after working as a GP in North Derbyshire for almost 30 years until the end of 2020, where I was most recently a partner at Staffa Health in Tibshelf. I have also worked as a clinical leader on Hardwick CCG and more recently for three years as a Governing Body GP for Derby and Derbyshire CCG. Over the years I have witnessed first-hand the excellent and invaluable care Ashgate's staff provide to patients and seen the services expand and respond to the needs of the population. I am passionate about providing good end of life care for both the patient and their loved ones and feel privileged to be a part of the team.
I am Tim Robinson and I joined Ashgate Hospice as a Trustee in 2022. I started my career in NHS general management and have since worked for companies delivering digital solutions to NHS and other public sector organisations.
My current role is Commercial Director at East Midlands AHSN, where I am part of the leadership team and get the opportunity to use my experiences to support the NHS and care system in taking advantage of innovative technologies and solutions.
I am Victoria Webb and I joined Ashgate Hospice as a Trustee in 2022.
I have worked within the NHS for over 25 years in the Dental, Primary Care and Community Care sectors. My current role is General Manager for Derbyshire Community Health Services, covering North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield.
Over the years, I have worked in operational and executive roles and I am looking forward to utilising my skills, knowledge, and experience to support the future growth of Ashgate Hospice. In addition, I work closely with my colleagues across Joined Up Care Derbyshire to develop and grow our healthcare leaders.
I am extremely passionate that patients should receive good end of life care, as well as ensuring their loved ones are supported. The care that Ashgate Hospice delivers is outstanding and I feel very proud and privileged to be a Trustee. Over the years to come, I look forward to supporting the future development and growth of services that the hospice delivers to our local patient population.