International Women's Day: SDH boss has 'utmost admiration and respect' for colleagues
Stacey Hunter's written an open letter to mark the occasion
Last updated 8th Mar 2022
The CEO of Salisbury's NHS Foundation Trust has written about her 'utmost admiration and respect' for her female colleagues to mark International Women's Day today (Tuesday 8th March).
Stacey Hunter says she's 'proud' of the 'extremely talented and hard-working' women that are employed at Salisbury District Hospital.
She's said:
"Here at the Trust, we celebrate and value diversity. It’s so important to learn from one another by sharing ideas, experiences and knowledge, and I am truly lucky to work alongside some amazing influential women. Each of them has had their own unique journey to get to where they are today."
The theme for this year's International Women's Day and Women's History Month through March is 'Women Providing Healing, Promoting Hope'.
Stacey's taken that theme to highlight the story of one colleague in particular - Alexandra Crick.
She's a Consultant in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, and is the Trust’s Clinical Lead for the Armed Forces.
Alex runs a War Injuries Clinic, which has a national remit and has provided care over many years to injured veterans from recent conflicts.
She says it was the people that surrounded her - both her Father and Grandfather were eye surgeons and she had a strong network of women including her Mother, Grandmother and Aunt - who inspired her to pursue her career.
Alex's advice to other women today is to 'be as good as you can be and persevere'.
In her open letter, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust CEO Stacey Hunter said:
"As Salisbury’s biggest employer we believe we all have a duty, every day, to lift each other up and take action for equality, of all kinds, to ensure we continue to build a community where it’s safe to be who we are as individuals. On International Women’s Day it’s important that we take time to reflect on the actions of the women who have helped to shape our history, and celebrate recent achievements and those who inspire and lead all of us into the future.
"Take a moment to appreciate and connect with those around you, the mothers, daughters, grandmothers, friends and partners who help make our hospital and our local and global community what they are today. I know I personally will be thinking of all the women who are being impacted by the devastating situation happening in Ukraine right now. By standing together we can empower, support and educate women, and drive for equality, which will help us to create a better environment for us all."