It’s a fond farewell to Noreen Kent, associate director of nursing leading on person-centred health & care, bereavement care & professional regulation.

Noreen is moving on to an exciting new challenge as director of nursing for NHS National Services Scotland (NSS).

She said: “The most difficult thing about moving on from NHS Lanarkshire is that I will miss all the wonderful colleagues I have worked with over the past 14 years. However, I was looking for the next challenge and opportunity and the NSS role offers that.”

Noreen has an impressive 34 years of experience in the NHS.

A registered nurse and midwife, she has worked both north and south of the border and held a number of senior nursing and midwifery posts in various locations across Scotland.

Recalling her successful career with NHS Lanarkshire, she said: “I have been deputy maternity services manager, acting maternity services manager and associate director of nursing – women’s, diagnostic & cancer division, based at Wishaw General Hospital.

“I also undertook a three year secondment on behalf of the Scottish Government across the four UK health departments and have worked internationally, leading a Scottish-funded five-year international programme in Malawi in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Following my secondment I returned to NHS Lanarkshire in 2012, initially as head of clinical efficiency and then in my most recent role.”

Noreen is relishing the challenge of her new job.

She said: “I’ll be working closely with the nurse directors on the other boards across Scotland and their wider health and social care integration teams. I’ll also be enhancing my understanding of the challenges facing both NSS and the wider boards, and building up my knowledge base to see how NSS can have a positive impact in supporting Scotland’s healthcare.”