The Royal Free London is delighted to announce the appointment of Julie Hamilton as its new group chief nurse.

Julie replaces Deborah Sanders who was appointed chief executive of Barnet Hospital in March 2020. Julie will begin her new role on 10 August 2020.

As group chief nurse, Julie will be responsible for leading the Royal Free London’s 4,300 nurses and midwives across all of its sites, including Barnet Hospital, Chase Farm Hospital and the Royal Free Hospital.

Julie said: “I am absolutely thrilled to have been appointed to this role and cannot wait to get started. We are in unprecedented times and I have seen the nurses, midwives and allied health professionals at the Royal Free London continue to show incredible commitment and dedication to our patients, responding to the biggest challenge any of us will face in our careers.

“It is that courage, kindness and determination to deliver the very best care every time they walk through our doors, which makes me incredibly proud to have been chosen to lead them into the future.”

Caroline Clarke, Royal Free London group chief executive, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Julie as our group chief nurse. She is an outstanding and hugely talented leader and ambassador for this organisation and I have no doubt that she will be a success.”

Julie, a nurse of 23 years, began her career in general surgery at St. Mary’s Hospital, London, before moving to intensive care at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust. Following a number of years there in various clinical and professional leadership roles including director of nursing, Julie joined the Royal Free London in January 2019 as director of nursing for Barnet Hospital.