Our new Director of Clinical Services is announced

2025 is in full swing already and we’re delighted to start by introducing our next Director of Clinical Services, Sarah Machin.  She’ll take over from Gina Starnes who’s retiring this year after a long and very successful career in nursing. As you’ll see from her message below, Sarah joins us from a similar role at a hospice in Greater Manchester.

Sarah will start her Directorship with us in May.

We appreciate that change is always a little unsettling, but with your support we know we can ensure Sarah quickly becomes a member of our very committed ‘one team’.

We know you’ll offer her a warm welcome when the time comes and look forward to her joining us.

Best wishes,

Paul, Gina, Frazer and Will

Hi, I am Sarah Machin and I am delighted you chose me to be your new Director of Clinical Services, I know I have some big shoes to fill when Gina leaves, but I am sure we will work very well together and continue with the amazing work you all do to support the communities of Cornwall.

On a personal note, I move down to Cornwall from a place in Cheshire, just outside the City of Manchester, and come with my family in tow. My husband Mike moves his work from his Manchester branch to the Plymouth branch, and we bring with us our two boys, Jack (9) and Joseph (4), and our Tortoise Me-Shell (named by Jack). We love Cornwall and holiday here every year, sometimes visiting several times each year. We have some relatives in Perranporth (Mike’s cousin, his wife and their daughter) but other than that we leave the rest of our family up north!

Professionally, I bring a 20 year nursing career to your Hospice, starting as a healthcare assistant at a large oncology Hospital, where I quickly realised my passion for nursing and went on to complete my nursing training. Once qualified I spent 2 years as a staff nurse at a local Hospice, then moved into cardiology briefly, however, not a huge amount of palliative care in cardiology and so, went back into oncology. I took up a year fixed term role as an Oncology Research Sister where I led trials in Head and Neck cancer, Urology and Colorectal Cancers and Palliative Care. I then spent the next 4 years as the Deputy Manager of the Clinical Research Facility at The Christie Hospital (the largest facility for Oncology research in Europe) where I led the team of over 50 staff, of various disciplines, over 4 areas. After the research facility I worked within Private Healthcare at the Christie Private Care based within the NHS Hospital, and was the Lead Macmillan Clinical Nurse Specialist, growing the team of 4 into a team of 11 staff, and achieving nomination of ‘service of the year’ at the Nursing times awards, and winning the Luang Buisson Leadership award (as part of the senior leadership team).  During my 11 plus years at The Christie I lead teams that were inspected and rated as outstanding by the CQC.

For the last 2.5 years I have been the Director of Clinical Services at Bury Hospice in Greater Manchester, the most fantastic role and one I would have done for many years to come. However, when this role at your wonderful Hospices came up, it was a  brilliant opportunity for me. This role is so much more than a job, it is part of who I am, and I know you all feel this when you think about why we do what we do.

I cannot wait to meet you all, and for my family to meet you all as well.

Sarah