Describe your role in one sentence: I am chair of my company, PJ Care Ltd.
Why did you want to work in healthcare? I had a passion to become a registered nurse from a young age and when my daughter was born with a disability this urged me on.
How do you want to see the sector change in the next five years? A slimmed down NHS executive that will listen to the highly skilled NHS and private sector clinicians.
My proudest achievement at work was ... winning The First Woman In Business Award.
The most difficult thing I've dealt with at work is ... managing the unreal expectations of commissioners. NHS commissioners don't understand the cost breakdown of providing a bed; it is unrealistic that we can provide a bed for less. If we want quality care we have to pay for it.
The biggest challenge facing the NHS is ... integration of health and social care, and maintaining healthcare budgets that will focus on obtaining high-quality care for its patients.
The people I work with are ... highly skilled and dedicated within the NHS, social care and the private sector.
I do what I do because ... I am passionate about ensuring patients receive the best quality care from skilled and experienced staff.
Sometimes people think that I ... have expectations that are too high for what I want to achieve – I don't.
Right now I want to ... share my life experiences with other women who have not achieved what they want to in life, but who have a dream and would like to reach their full potential.
At work I am always learning that ... each day will bring a new challenge and to treat each day as a learning experience.
The one thing always on my mind at work is ... to keep to my planned day so I have time for anyone (staff) who wants to chat.
If I could go back 10 years and meet my former self I'd tell them ... the same as I did then – they are wrong and that I will achieve my business case!
If I could meet my future self I'd expect them to be ... just the same as I am now – maybe with a few less pounds on the hips!
What is the best part of your job? Meeting and helping the people I come into contact with.
What is the worst part of your job? Being stuck in my office. I'd rather have my uniform on and be out working with the clinicians and patients, because that is my passion.
What makes you smile? The care staff and how they shine in their work looking after the patients in my neurological care centres.
What keeps you awake at night? Too much Diet Coke and dishonesty from others.
If you would like to feature in our 'Five minutes with ...' series, or know someone who would, then you can let us know by emailing healthcare@theguardian.com
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