20 January 2015
THE UNIVERSITY of Sheffield has awarded Professor Hilary Chapman, chief nurse of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, an Honorary Doctor of Medicine in special recognition of her major contribution to healthcare and healthcare delivery.
Hilary is one of the country’s most prominent chief nurses, and has made major contributions to health policy, healthcare delivery and system reform, most recently co-leading on the development of the Safer Nursing Care Toolkit.
This is now used widely in hospitals throughout the UK and helps determine safe nurse staffing levels on acute wards depending on how sick or dependent patients are. Plans are now underway to develop similar tools for A&E departments and other specialty wards.
Hilary holds a number of distinguished honours and was awarded a CBE for her services to nursing in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List in 2012. She has an unquestionable commitment to and passion for the fundamental values of excellence in patient care, the patient experience and nursing practice.
Speaking about the award, Hilary said: “I am passionate about nursing and the fundamental values of excellence in patient care, the patient experience, nursing practice and the bigger health and social care picture, so I feel very privileged and humbled to have received this honour from such a respected and esteemed institution.”
Professor Paul White, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for the University of Sheffield, added: “We are delighted to award Professor Chapman an honorary degree in recognition of her significant contribution to healthcare and the development of the nursing profession. She is an excellent role model for all those entering the healthcare professions, and has brought great benefits to the city of Sheffield and the surrounding region through her pursuit of the highest quality of nursing provision.”
Hilary trained as a nurse in Sheffield in the 1980s, and then went on to work at the Northern General Hospital as a staff nurse in cardiothoracic surgery and critical care sister.
Prior to returning to Sheffield in 2006, she was chief nurse at Kettering General Hospital and University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust. At Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust she regularly undertakes at least one clinical shift every month which she describes as being “one of the most important and valuable things” she does.
She is a visiting professor at Sheffield Hallam University, a National Institute for Healthcare Research advisory board member and a non-executive director of the National Skills Academy (Health).
ENDS
Photo: Professor Hilary Chapman receiving her award from the University of Sheffield’s Chancellor, Sir Peter Middleton
MEDIA CONTACT:
Claudia Blake, Communications Specialist
Tel: 0114 226 5033
Email: claudia.blake@sth.nhs.uk