4 days ago
Tributes to health boss who transformed Derby's hospitals
Tributes have been paid to a former NHS manager who oversaw a huge transformation of Derby's Acred was chief executive at Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from 1998 to 2010 and was fundamental in the planning and building of the Royal Derby also helped to set up a graduate entry medical school in the city and was awarded an OBE in the 2002 New Year Honours list for services to the funeral took place earlier this week following her death at the age of 67 in May.
During her time as chief executive, Ms Acred oversaw the building of the new hospital which replaced the Derby City General and Derbyshire Royal on the site of the former, the hospital has 1,159 beds and 35 operating theatres. It cost £334m and was officially opened on 1 April son Lewis said the family had been taken aback by the tributes."My mum was an amazing woman, a devoted mother and a kind and generous friend to all those around her," he said."It's been overwhelming hearing from so many people who all the say the same thing about just how significant an influence she's had on their lives."She was loved by so many in the community and has made Derby a better place, and her parting leaves a huge void in all our lives."
'Shaped our history'
Dr Gis Robinson, executive chief medical officer at the trust - now called University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Trust - said: "Her firm desire to ensure a state-of-the-art hospital was delivered for local people has allowed the teams within it to deliver high-quality care for patients in the many years that have followed, and the new hospital or graduate entry medical school could not have been delivered without Julie's vision, aspiration and determination."Julie had a commitment to gender equality, and clinical and staff engagement, and was known as a compassionate and approachable leader, embodying the values of the NHS."We are honoured to have had Julie's leadership for 12 years, shaping the history of our trust."
