A new non-executive director has been appointed to the Royal Free London board.

Dame Donna Kinnair, who was the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) until June 2021, joined the trust this month (December 2022).

Dame Donna has held various roles in the NHS across primary and acute care, including clinical director of emergency medicine at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals and executive director of nursing for the South East London Cluster board.

Previously at the RCN she was the director responsible for policy and practice, including working with international nurses and academics. 

She advised the Prime Minister’s Commission on the future of Nursing and Midwifery in 2010 and served as nurse/child health assessor to the Victoria Climbié Inquiry.

In 2008, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to nursing.

Dame Donna said: “I’m delighted to be joining the Royal Free London’s board and am aiming to bring my experience in nursing and NHS leadership to this role.

“This is a challenging time for all NHS organisations and I am looking forward to supporting the trust and its staff in the months ahead.”

Royal Free London chair Mark Lam said: “I am so pleased to welcome Dame Donna to the board. She will bring a wealth of experience within the field of healthcare and I look forward to working closely with her as we navigate the challenges ahead.”