St Oswald’s Hospice devoted Chair Dr Christine English steps down from board
by Emily Gray · ChronicleLiveSt Oswald's Hospice has announced the departure of Chair Dr Christine English, whose dedicated service comes to a close as she completes her maximum eight-year term.
Current Vice Chair, Steve James is to succeed her, becoming the new Chair of the organisation's board of trustees. The announcement comes during Trustees’ Week, taking place November 4-8, celebrating the role and impact trustees make on charities across the UK.
Dr Christine English, a former Subject Head in Nursing, Midwifery and Health at Northumbria University, has been a guiding force for the hospice since joining the board in 2016. She was appointed Chair in 2021, when her leadership was instrumental during the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Reflecting on her tenure, she said: "It’s been an incredible journey, especially considering I took over as Chair during the Covid-19 pandemic, when we had to shift into survival mode. But like challenges in life, you adapt, and you get stronger – and that’s what we did.
"I was truly amazed by how everyone across all teams in the hospice pulled together during those challenging times, demonstrating just how resilient and dedicated they are."
Dr English’s legacy as Chair will be marked by compassion, innovation and a commitment to research - one of her highlights during her terms was in 2023 when St Oswald’s Hospice’s Lymphoedema Service and Focus on Living Centre won the ‘Innovation Champion Team Award’ at the Bright Ideas in Health Awards 2023.
Christine has also overseen growth in the hospice’s engagement within the community, which aligns with a key part of St Oswald’s Hospice new strategy.
She said: "Our Children and Young Adults Outreach Service allows us to reach more children and young adults who need our care. Our teams can now deliver specialist care packages and meaningful activities directly to homes, providing essential support to families.
"We’re also widening access to St Oswald’s Hospice Focus on Living Centre, in more underserved areas where communities are facing severe health challenges and where life expectancy is much lower.
"We’re reshaping perceptions to show that hospices are more than places for end-of-life care - they’re places for meaningful, supportive living.”
She ended: "It’s been an honour and a privilege to be involved at St Oswald’s Hospice. The devotion of the staff and volunteers is inspirational, to say the least."
As Christine steps down, current Vice Chair, Steve James, will become the new Chair of trustees. Over the last 20 years, Steve has worked as a HR consultant leading on change programmes for central government, local authorities and not-for-profit organisations.
Reflecting on his predecessor’s impact, he said: "Christine has done an outstanding job as Chair, particularly given the challenges brought by Covid-19.
"Christine’s unwavering commitment to research and her exceptional leadership have been invaluable. Her expertise and dedication guided us through the immense challenges of the pandemic, helping us emerge resilient and focused.
"Her knowledge and insight will be greatly missed, but her lasting impact on St Oswald’s Hospice will continue to shape our future."
In his new role, Steve will be focused on implementing the hospice’s strategy.
“By 2027," he said, "I hope we’ll be able to point to tangible achievements and say, ‘yes, this is what we’ve accomplished'.
"It will be essential to identify where our strategic efforts are yielding positive outcomes. For instance, how is our research progressing, and how are we reaching communities that might not typically engage with us.
"My aim will be to ensure that, through strong partnerships and collaboration, we’re collectively delivering on the objectives we’ve set for ourselves.”
A memorable encounter with Dylan, a young adult who attends St Oswald’s Hospice for short breaks, inspired Steve to make service improvements, including enhanced Wi-Fi, which made a difference in the quality of experience for young people at the hospice.
Steve said: "I come from a family of builders, so I guess you could say improving things runs in my blood. But for me, it’s less about bricks and mortar and more about building a place where young adults like Dylan feel truly at home."
Steph Edusei, CEO of St Oswald’s Hospice, expressed gratitude to both Christine and Steve.
She said: "I can’t express enough how grateful we are to Dr Christine for her incredible devotion as Chair of the Board of Trustees.
"Since 2021, her support and guidance have been a true lifeline for the hospice, especially during the pandemic when our clinical and income generation operations faced significant challenges. Her leadership and compassion have been instrumental in helping us navigate those difficult times.
"Additionally, her commitment to advancing our research initiatives has been invaluable, ensuring we continue to provide the best possible care and support for our patients and their families.
"As we welcome Steve as our new Chair, I’m excited about the fresh perspectives and leadership he will bring. His extensive experience and commitment to our vision will undoubtedly help us continue to thrive and support our patients and their families.
"Together, Christine and Steve have laid a strong foundation for the future of St Oswald’s Hospice, and we are deeply thankful for their dedication and impact on our community."
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