Raised and educated in Luton, I completed my nurse training at the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. As my career progressed, I specialised in intensive care, infection control, commissioning of health care services and took on other roles, including Deputy Director of Public Health in central London, led a prison health care team across eight London prisons, and was a Non-Executive Director of the Faculty of Public Health.
Using my nursing expertise, I cared for my own parents, through their individual illnesses, so understand the impact of long term conditions, including dementia both on the individual and the wider family. Through this personal experience, I have seen the negative impact of poor care being delivered in my parents home, and the amazing difference that focused support delivered with care, compassion, good communication, and positive humour can bring.