As the NHS marks its 78th birthday, University Hospitals Sussex is celebrating colleagues recognised as part of NHS England South East’s 78 Faces, One Shared Purpose campaign.
Their stories reflect the dedication, compassion and innovation demonstrated every day by staff across our hospitals, while supporting the aims of the NHS 10-Year Health Plan, which highlights the future of healthcare lies in prevention, early intervention, and care delivered closer to home.
As one of the largest organisations in Sussex, we are also embracing this shift from reactive treatment to proactive prevention. Through our leadership role in the Sussex Provider Collaborative, we are helping shape more joined-up services that respond to the needs of our growing and ageing population, while reflecting what local people and partners tell us matters most.
We recognise that our role extends beyond providing hospital care. That’s why Excellent Care for Communities is one of the five ambitions at the heart of our new Trust strategy.
Through this ambition, we are committed to helping people stay well and access care closer to home, supporting local communities through employment and investment, reducing our environmental impact, and working with partners to improve services and patient experience.
The four UHSussex colleagues featured in the 78 Faces, One Shared Purpose campaign are just some of the many staff whose work brings our values and ambitions to life every day. Meet our featured colleagues below, or view all 78 stories on the campaign website.
Jason Lenton, Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist and Asthma Joint Clinical Lead, Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital
For Jason Lenton, great asthma care means helping children live healthy, active lives.
A children’s nurse since 1993 and a Respiratory Clinical Nurse Specialist since 2003, Jason supports children and young people with asthma through nurse-led clinics, multidisciplinary services and care across the hospital. Every child receives a personalised asthma action plan and education to help manage their condition confidently.
Working closely with primary, secondary and community care colleagues, Jason takes a whole-person approach, considering factors such as housing, air quality and mental health alongside clinical needs.
“For me, prevention matters most,” he says. “When a child’s asthma is well controlled, they can sleep through the night, go to school, play, and live well – and every child deserves that.”
Jason’s work helps improve long-term outcomes for children and demonstrates the NHS commitment to prevention and joined-up care.
Dr Suzanne Ford-Dunn, Consultant in Palliative Medicine
Dr Suzanne Ford-Dunn leads specialist palliative care services at University Hospitals Sussex and works closely with community and hospice partners to support patients in the last year of life.
She has also helped develop the Comfort Tracker app, an innovative digital tool that supports patients, carers and clinicians by improving communication, identifying deterioration earlier and helping people receive care at home.
“For me, the NHS is about being there for patients and families when they need us most,” says Suzanne. “Through digital tools like the Comfort Tracker, we can stay connected to people in their own homes and ensure they feel supported during the most important moments of their lives.”
The project highlights how digital innovation can improve patient experience while supporting more care to be delivered closer to home.
Georgina Yeo, Tobacco Dependency Programme Manager
Georgina Yeo leads the Trust’s Tobacco Dependency Programme, helping patients and families become smoke free and reducing the health inequalities associated with smoking.
Working with a team of health improvement advisors, she supports hospital inpatients and pregnant smokers, while expanding services for outpatient groups. She has also played a key role in embedding a smoke-free culture across the Trust.
“Many of our patients are lifelong smokers who, with the right support and links into community services, have finally quit for good,” says Georgina. “It is never too late to stop.”
From supporting smoke-free births to helping older smokers quit, Georgina’s work is making a difference across generations and helping prevent future ill health.
Bethan Davies, Stroke Consultant and Deputy Clinical Green Lead
For Dr Bethan Davies, preventing illness is one of the most effective ways to improve both public health and environmental sustainability.
Alongside her clinical work as a stroke consultant at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Bethan leads work to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare and raise awareness of the links between planetary and human health.
“The NHS is there for people in a crisis but also to support people to stay well,” she says. “Up to 90% of strokes are preventable, so helping people avoid having strokes in the first place is an essential part of what we do.”
By promoting healthier lifestyles and sustainable healthcare, Bethan’s work demonstrates the shift from sickness to prevention and helps people live longer, healthier lives.