Paul Brooks MBE to leave UHDB
Paul Brooks MBE, Director of Patient Experience, Estates and Facilities, is leaving University Hospitals of Derby and Burton at the end of October to take on a new role as Director of Estates and Facilities at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn.
Dr Magnus Harrison, Interim Chief Executive at UHDB, said: “I have worked alongside Paul for many years and I want to thank him for his exemplary leadership, dedication and everything he has done for the NHS over the past 39 years. Paul will be hugely missed at UHDB, but we wish him all the best in his new role.”
Paul started his career in 1983 as an apprentice plumber at the Manor Hospital in Derby and has since worked across the Derby hospital sites in various hard FM roles throughout the years including Maintenance Plumber, Estates Manager, and Estates Designer.
In the last ten years, Paul has taken the lead for Patient Experience across UHDB and led the Trust to the first Compassion in Care Award from the Health Service Journal commissioned by the Department of Health.
He is known by many as the inventor of the Derby Door – a device used across the Trust and other hospitals to help in the decontamination of patient areas and isolation of infected patients, which has helped thousands of patients and colleagues.
Paul was also awarded an MBE in 2020 for his work in NHS Leadership.
Paul Brooks MBE, said: “It has been an incredible honour to build my career here at UHDB. Having been part of the NHS in Derby for 39 years, I have worked with many people who have had a huge impact on me, including new colleagues I’ve had the pleasure of working with in Burton, Tamworth and Lichfield. Whilst I am excited at the new challenges ahead, Derby will always hold a place in my heart.
“I am incredibly proud of the Facilities Management team getting recognition when they were the first non-clinical team to be awarded the Chair’s Team of the Year Award.
“I have so many fond memories, being presented to The Queen when the Children’s Hospital opened was a real highlight. Hearing the name ‘Derby Door’ used at so many bed meetings for patient isolations fills me with pride that a little idea has helped so much.”