Chief Nurse honoured by University of Essex

Senior nurse leader Dr Giles Thorpe has become an honorary professor at the University of Essex’s School of Health and Social Care.

Dr Thorpe, who is Chief Nurse of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), was recently awarded his professional doctorate in health service management, which he began at the University in 2016.

“I feel very honoured to be asked by the University of Essex to become an honorary professor in the School of Health and Social Care,” said Dr Thorpe. “My role will include mentorship and teaching on aspects of nursing leadership as well as offering strategic support to the Dean of the School in developing nursing, midwifery and AHP (allied health profession) careers in partnership with colleagues at the University.”

The focus of Dr Thorpe’s professional doctorate was to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of having end of life conversations on nurses, and he will be presenting his findings and theory at a forthcoming End of Life East of England NHS conference.

Professor Victoria Joffe, Dean of the School of Health and Social Care, added: “I am delighted to be able to welcome Dr Thorpe to the staff in the School of Health and Social Care as an honorary professor. This partnership consolidates the strong collaboration the University and the School has with ESNEFT.

“We have already started working on joint research activity in the fields of dementia and stroke care and will continue to work closely on enhancing our teaching and ensuring our students are exposed to current evidence-based learning by top practitioners and leaders in healthcare.”