Charity director brings a wealth of experience to Bradford

January 17, 2023 Off By admin

Bradford Hospitals’ Charity has kicked off the New Year with a new leader, appointing Sharon Milner as Charity Director.

Sharon joins Bradford Hospitals’ Charity (BHC) after heading up the Leeds-based Children’s Heart Surgery Fund (CHSF) for 16 years. As CHSF CEO, Sharon fronted the campaign to save the Leeds Congenital Heart Unit from closure in 2012 and championed the charity’s capital appeal Keeping the Beat, which funded equipment for a revolutionary new hybrid theatre.

In recent years, she has grown and steered the charity through the difficulties of the COVID19 pandemic and saw the charity’s focus towards family support within the unit go from strength to strength.

Mrs Milner said: “As a third sector leader, I care deeply about the work charities deliver. I am particularly passionate about the NHS and healthcare, having worked in the area of congenital heart disease for many years, because I have seen first-hand the overwhelming difference charities such as BHC make to patients and their families.

“Bradford is very new to me, having spent most of my career working in Leeds. However, I am very excited to be part of this vibrant, entrepreneurial city, and I am humbled to be working for such a great organisation, supporting all the patients and Staff here at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

“BHC supports NHS teams to do their jobs to the best of their ability, in a positive environment with the extra support they wouldn’t ordinarily receive. We provide revolutionary equipment, not provided by the NHS, training and development of NHS teams and so much more. I am hoping to enhance this support and maximise it in as many areas of the hospital as we can.

“The patient journey is so important. When it’s delivered well, it impacts positively on wellbeing, in turn, families feel reassured their loved ones are receiving the best care. I am looking forward to working with the medical teams to establish how we can help further over the coming years to improve on what is already a great service.”

Dr Maxwell Mclean, Chairman of Bradford Hospitals’ Charity, said: “We are delighted to welcome Sharon into the fold and excited to see the many ways in which our hospital charity will benefit from her significant experience. She brings with her a very business-like approach, which has already benefited our relationship with the Bradford business community. Her proven track record means she is in a strong position to help us develop an even more effective, streamlined charity which can provide rapid and effective support to our patients and colleagues.”

Before joining the charity sector, Mrs Milner worked in sales and marketing in the private sector, working for many years for the Chamber of Commerce. She’s hoping to develop links with the business community now, having recently launched the charity’s 100 Club.

You can find more information about the 100 Club and the projects funded by BHC by visiting https://bradfordhospitalscharity.org/