Former NHS housekeeper becomes chief nurse of trust
A nurse who began his NHS career as a housekeeper has now been appointed as the chief nursing officer at a trust in the North of England.
Kevin Parker-Evans has held the chief nurse role at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on an interim basis since January 2024.
He will now step into the position permanently, with immediate effect.
“I have seen our nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals deliver amazing care, go above and beyond and support each other in times of pressure”
Kevin Parker-Evans
Registering as an adult nurse in 2003, Mr Parker-Evans first began his healthcare career with a work placement as a housekeeper at a hospital in Shropshire.
He then became a healthcare assistant before commencing his nurse training in March 2000 at Staffordshire University.
Before joining Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals (WWL), Mr Parker-Evans was the deputy chief nurse at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Mr Parker-Evans said he was “very proud” to be the trust’s new chief nursing officer and added that his priority was making sure the trust delivered excellent care.
“Personalised care and us meeting the differing needs for our patients matters to me, the smallest things make the biggest difference when we are at our most vulnerable and so I want adjustments that our patients need to make to access healthcare be business as usual for us,” he said.
“Having been the interim chief nurse since January 2024, I have seen our nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals deliver amazing care, go above and beyond and support each other in times of pressure, and I am very proud to be WWL’s new chief nursing officer.”
For Mr Parker-Evans, nursing runs in the family. His brother and sister-in-law are both nurses and his husband, Tom Parker-Evans, is a nurse and head of safeguarding at NHS Greater Manchester.
Looking ahead, Mr Parker-Evans said he wanted to take steps to develop the nursing workforce of the future by working with the local university, schools and colleges.
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals chief executive Mary Fleming said the trust board was “delighted” with Mr Parker-Evans’ appointment.
She added: “Kevin has shown to be a vital new addition to the trust since January this year and having such a highly skilled and compassionate leader at WWL, who has such dedication and passion for nursing, is wonderful news for both the trust and the community we serve.
“I look forward to continuing to work with Kevin, nurturing our current workforce and developing the nursing, midwifery and [allied health professional] workforce of the future.”
