Former Princess Alexandra Hospital consultant Dr Jeff Phillips appointed new chair of trustees at St Clare Hospice
A former consultant at Harlow’s Princess Alexandra Hospital has been appointed the new chair of trustees at St Clare Hospice.
Dr Jeff Phillips brings a wealth of experience from a distinguished career in medicine, leadership and governance, and, up until his retirement in 2023, he worked at the general hospital which serves the Bishop’s Stortford area.
Born in Wales, he trained in medicine in London and specialised in anaesthetics and intensive care, becoming a consultant in 2000.
He has held senior positions, including head of intensive care, head of anaesthetics and deputy medical director. Nationally, he has served as clinical champion for infection control at the Department of Health and as a tribunal member for the General Medical Council.
Jeff’s connection to hospice care is deeply personal. Following his mother’s death from ovarian cancer in 2019, supported by a Hospice at Home team in Wales, he was inspired to give back.
As an only child, he carried the emotional and practical weight of his mother’s care, and the support from the hospice made a lasting impact on him.
“Mum only died the way she wanted because of the hospice,” he said. “That experience showed me the incredible impact of compassionate end-of-life care – something I’m passionate about supporting through St Clare.”
He joined St Clare’s board of trustees in 2021 and said he sees his role as a ‘conductor’ – helping the board work in harmony, asking the right questions and supporting the organisation to flourish. He is also keen to be a visible and approachable presence across the hospice, its shops and community events.
This week (November 3-7) is National Trustees’ Week, a UK-wide celebration of the nearly one million charity trustees who give their time, expertise and commitment to help organisations like St Clare to thrive.
A spokesperson for the hospice said trustees play a crucial role in the governance of St Clare, ensuring the charity remains true to its mission of providing outstanding, free and compassionate care to people living with life-limiting illnesses across West Essex and the East Herts border area.
The trustees oversees strategy, finances and compliance, while supporting the senior leadership team to make key decisions that safeguard the hospice’s future.
St Clare Hospice chief executive Sarah Thompson said: “Trustees are the unsung heroes of the charity world. They volunteer their time and skills to ensure we’re well governed, sustainable and always focused on the people we serve.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jeff as our new chair – his leadership and compassion make him a wonderful advocate for our work.”
Jeff succeeds Nik Wright, following years of dedicated service and a lifelong connection to St Clare. Nik had been involved with the hospice since he was a teenager – his dad, Stan, was the hospice’s very first employee.
Sarah said: “We’ve cared for a couple of very close family members of Nik’s over the years, including his father, Stan, who died in our inpatient unit in 2017.
“Nik has always encouraged me and the team to continue to focus on the needs of local people, and I’ve been grateful for his unwavering support in his time on the board.”