Chief nurse - Prof Sarah O'Brien

Sarah was previously the executive director of strategy and system development for Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership. Sarah brings a huge amount of experience as a clinical leader working across NHS providers, commissioning, local government, and an integrated care system.

Sarah is a former diabetes nurse consultant and gained national recognition for her work which saw big improvements for people with diabetes. In this role she gained her PhD and was awarded visiting professor of nursing with Liverpool John Moores University.

Sarah’s other previous roles include deputy director of nursing at an acute trust, CCG chief nurse and then clinical accountable officer at NHS St Helens Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). As clinical accountable officer, she worked closely with the local authority to develop better joined up ways of working between health and social care.

In 2018, Sarah took up a joint role as executive director people's services at St Helens Council and clinical accountable officer at the CCG. The work in St Helens to bring health and care much closer together has received national recognition and awards.

Sarah is passionate about raising ambitions and equal opportunities for young people, including encouraging them to pursue a career in healthcare. In 2020 she was appointed honorary professor for Edge Hill University’s new medical school thanks not only to her expertise, but the value she places on improving people’s life chances.