06/20/2026
I had the great opportunity to have Clair Birchall as my department manager at the Royal Gwent Hospitals, A&E Department and the blessed opportunity to work at a hospital directly across the road of my families generational neighbourhood for 125 yrs, in Pillgwenlly.
When the department was due to be closed due to its hygiene and cleanliness issues in 2005, and certainly not fault due to the healthcare professionals, I had the blessed opportunity to be a team player within the department and make it better. Another department with a lack of knowledge within their vocation and no professionalism is what contributed to this crisis.
When I first started my vocation, I requested to be transferred to the department and with my background experience within the cleaning industry and an opportunity to learn about infection control and superbugs that was plaguing the department, and most definitely the warmth I always received regardless of a someone being a Consultant, to the great office staff, I wasn't going to let them have "egg on their faces" for something not of their making. I even wrote to the editor of the local newspaper (The Argus) in regards to their constant attacks on the healthcare professionals in the A&E Department and not where it belonged. The general public and other departments.
I brought the department back to NHS standards with my recommendations to help improve the quality, education and safety for patients, staff and visitors.
Claire offered me an opportunity to become an infection control nurse, but I had another ambition. I also had an opportunity to lead the race relations committee at the hospital , which I regret not taking.
Thanks Claire, for your confidence and faith in me.
The best job and manager, I ever had.
Claire Birchall
Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Integrated Governance
Claire was appointed to role of interim Executive Director of Quality, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals in Public Health Wales in September 2023 and permanently appointed as Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Integrated Governance in August 2024. This is a critical leadership role with responsibility for strategically leading the professions across the Organisation and supporting and influencing the public health agenda for the population of Wales. Claire joined from the NHS Executive where she led the Wales Cancer Network and was also the Professional Lead Nurse for the NHS Collaborative. Claire has worked in healthcare for more than 34 years and is a graduate of Nottingham and Swansea Universities. Claire has worked her entire career in Wales undertaking specialist nursing, senior nursing, leadership, general management and director positions in three of the largest Health Boards in Wales, including key leadership and Gold positions during COVID. Claire moved to Public Health Wales to support the leadership of the Long-Term Vision and Strategy for public and population health in Wales, at a time of such challenge and hardship for our population. Having spent most of her career in the secondary and tertiary end of health provision, she is keen to be able to influence the prevention, health promotion and early intervention agenda, focusing on those critical long-term changes which will influence health and well-being now, and for our future generation. Claire has a particular interest in supportive and compassionate leadership, and the opportunity that offers to our colleagues, our effectiveness, and the population we serve. A key champion for equity and justice, Claire is honored to lead her own profession in this challenging agenda. Claire is a proud Registered Nurse and describes herself as being “as passionate and dedicated to person-centered care, outcomes and experience as the day I started my nursing training.”
