Overgate Hospice is delighted to announce the appointment of Alison Harwood to the post of Chief Executive. Alison will join the Hospice next year when the current Chief Executive, Janet Cawtheray, retires.
Alison is currently the Director of Clinical Services at Wakefield Hospice, a role she has held for over five years. Originally from the Midlands, Alison has lived in Yorkshire for 29 years and was the first Respiratory Nurse in West Yorkshire. She has held various clinical roles during her career, and amongst her many achievements, she developed services for lung cancer patients gaining a post as Macmillan Lung Cancer Nurse Specialist at Bradford Hospitals Trust. Alison has also worked as the Lead Nurse for Cancer in Calderdale and as a lecturer at Bradford University.
Sheila Dent Chair of the Board of Trustees said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Alison to the Overgate Team. The calibre of applicants applying for the role was extremely high however Alison impressed us with her wealth of clinical experience and a thorough knowledge and passion for hospice care.
Over the last ten years Janet has transformed Overgate, diversifying the care we provide and steering the Hospice through the Covid-19 pandemic, and I’m confident that Alison will build on this and ensure we continue to adapt to the needs of our community. I’m really looking forward to working with Alison as we celebrate our 40th anniversary year.”
Alison said: “I’m incredibly passionate about providing the best possible end of life care and it is a great privilege to be appointed as the new Chief Executive at Overgate Hospice. I am very honoured to be joining Team Overgate at such an exciting time. Working with the community, I hope we can ensure that future generations continue to know Overgate Hospice as the local haven of support and compassion for anyone with a life limiting condition and their families.”
Janet Cawtheray, Chief Executive said: “The next few years at Overgate will be exciting and challenging in equal measures as the Hospice faces financial challenges, changes in health care and plans to build a new inpatient unit, but I’ve known Alison for many years in various roles, and I know that I am leaving the Hospice in very safe hands.”
Alison will start her new role in May 2021.