Matron Charlotte Dent looks to drive up standards

Charlotte Dent, Matron, The Royal Oldham Hospital

Charlotte Dent has been appointed the new dedicated quality matron for medicine at The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.

Ms Dent started work in her new post, based at The Royal Oldham Hospital, in November and is leading work on supporting the Trust’s medical nursing staff and ensuring high professional standards are consistently applied as a priority.

Ms Dent's nursing background includes a wealth of experience in critical care, community nursing, general medicine and stroke.

Commenting on her new role, she said: “My post entails providing professional leadership for nursing, ensuring that safe and effective quality care is provided to our patients at all times and ensuring that the care environment is organised to meet the needs of patients, thereby enhancing their experience.

"I will lead programmes of improvement in many areas including reduction of hospital acquired pressure ulcers and reducing inpatient falls.

"As a quality matron, I will be supporting ward managers, guiding nursing staff and helping patients and their relatives during what are difficult times when loved ones need hospital care”.

Last month, the Chief Executive of the Trust, Dr Gillian Fairfield, unveiled a new high priority ten point action plan to make an immediate impact and improvement on the quality of services it provides to patients and their families.

‘Raising the bar on quality plan’ sets out what the Trust’s 9,000 staff can do now to make the Trust and its services the best they can possibly be for staff and patients. Dr Fairfield has rolled out the plan as part of her vision for the Trust to become a truly quality-driven provider of healthcare by improving services, clinical effectiveness and patient experience.

Ms Dent will be helping to push the Trust’s raising the bar on quality agenda and helping to create ward environments that are fit for purpose.

The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, North Manchester General Hospital, Rochdale Infirmary, Fairfield General Hospital and community services.