Catherine Morgan, the current chief nurse for East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust has been appointed by NHS England and NHS Improvement as the new chief nurse for the East of England regional team. Catherine replaces Dr Lynne Wigens, who announced her retirement as chief nurse earlier in the year and will be stepping down at the end of March 2020.

Ann Radmore, regional director for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the East of England, said: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Catherine Morgan into the NHS England and NHS Improvement team. Catherine knows the East of England area well, and has done a great job at a number of our trusts. We look forward to seeing the impact she will make as part of NHS England and NHS Improvement in her new role as chief nurse for the East of England.

“I would also like to thank our outgoing chief nurse, Dr. Lynne Wigens, for all her dedication and hard work over the past four years in overseeing the nursing directorate within NHS England and latterly in NHS Improvement. Lynne has had an incredible career which has spanned over thirty years in the health service within clinical care, management and education. She has strived to ensure clinical practitioners are supported effectively, thereby enabling them to deliver excellence in patient care. We wish her all the best for her future and for her retirement.”

Catherine Morgan, Chief Nurse of East Suffolk and North East Essex NHS Foundation Trust said: “I have loved every minute of my nursing career and being an advocate for compassionate care and treatment. I feel very proud to have been appointed Chief Nurse for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the East of England and I look forward to working with patients, colleagues and volunteers throughout the region”.

Catherine will be taking over from Dr. Lynne Wigens, who retires in March after a long and successful career in the NHS.

Dr. Lynne Wigens, chief nurse for NHS England and NHS Improvement in the East of England, said: “I’d like to thank all of my colleagues for their hard work and support over the years. There is some fantastic work already underway in the region and I’m confident that Catherine is the right person to take the nursing profession forward.”