Diane Armstrong

What are the main responsibilities in your role?

I have responsibility for nursing care in Trauma and Related Services at LTHT, which incorporates the Major Trauma Ward. I am responsible for the nursing strategy across the service ensuring patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place.

I look after recruitment and retention of our staff and health and wellbeing. I need to make sure we have sufficient numbers of staff with the correct skills to care for our patients. I have a team of matrons who work with me to support our patients and staff health and wellbeing and outcomes.

I’m proud to have been part of the Major Trauma Centre from inception to date and to have seen the enormous difference we have made to so many patients' lives. I previously worked in community nursing as a district nurse and returned to the Leeds General Infirmary to work in the Major Trauma Centre from its inception, I have worked in many roles including as a nurse on the Major Trauma ward, Major Trauma Specialist Nurse, Senior Sister on the Major Trauma ward, Matron in Trauma and now Head of Nursing for Trauma.

What’s the best thing about your job?

No day is the same and I get to make a difference for both patient care and staff who work in my service. I love to get out and about and speak with staff and patients as often as I can so I can hear what we are doing right and also what we could do better, I can hopefully then use this to improve services.

What is the most important aspect of delivering excellent patient care?

Ensuring staff in Trauma and Related Services have the right skills and equipment to enable them to deliver high quality patient care to everyone who comes through the service. I want to do all I can to support the Major Trauma Centre to ensure patients in our region deliver the highest level of care and rehabilitation following what are often life changing injuries.

Tell us something people are surprised to find out about you.

I used to be a bank manager before I became a nurse.