After training as a nurse in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Paul moved to London where his long and varied career in NHS Trusts, private healthcare and healthcare charities began.

Prior to joining Demelza in June, Paul spent three years in the role of Lead Nurse for Children and Young People’s Services at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. He also spent over two years in a combined role as Deputy Head of Clinical Services and Head of Paediatrics at St Anthony’s Hospital, part of Spire Healthcare Group PLC.

Paul, said: “I have developed a wealth of clinical leadership skills throughout my time working in hospital trusts but I also bring to Demelza a commercial approach having been employed to design and review new and existing Paediatric Services in the private sector, in collaboration with national advisory groups and the CQC, giving me a well-rounded understanding of healthcare across the board”. 

“I am also currently active in the charity sector, as the chair of an LGBTQ+ community choir and registered charity, who use music to raise awareness and educate on LGBTQ+ issues in the UK and overseas.

 “Coming to Demelza gives me the opportunity to balance all of those things together, whilst maintaining valuable contact with all Demelza service users, who are at the heart of the organisation. I am looking forward to contributing to all of the great work that has already been done but also identifying where I might provide support to that work and adding some of my own ideas.”

Together with his Senior Leadership Team colleagues, Paul will be instrumental in helping Demelza to achieve its five-year strategy, which launched in spring 2022.

Lavinia Jarrett, Demelza CEO, said: “I very much look forward to working with Paul as we plan to move all our clinical services forward to meet the aims detailed in our strategy. It is clear Paul is deeply aligned to Demelza’s values, development and professional growth for all staff and wellbeing support.”

Paul spends a lot of his time supporting the Pink Singers, his community choir and has a love for all types of live music. He likes to travel, and his first trip overseas after COVID-19 travel restrictions were lifted, was to the Arctic Circle in the north of Finland.  He has two adopted rescue cats called Blue and Coco.