Bev Fitzsimons announces plans to stand down as Chief Executive

Bev Fitzsimons has announced she will retire from her role as Chief Executive of the Point of Care Foundation later this year.

Bev has worked at the Foundation since its inception as an independent charity ten years ago, and prior to that played a key role in the Point of Care programme at the King’s Fund. She has led the organisation since 2020 when she took over from founding Chief Executive, Jocelyn Cornwell.

Bev’s tenure has included much of the Foundation’s work responding to the pandemic, with the rapid roll out of Team Time enabling the continued provision of Schwartz Rounds-like support for health and care teams facing acute emotional and psychological challenges.

As Chief Executive, and previously as Head of Improvement, Bev led several in-depth quality improvement projects in fields from maternity services to end-of-life care, working with clients across the UK and around the world. 

She forged strong relationships with health and care organisations, which enable the Foundation to provide high-level support for organisation- and system-wide patient and staff experience programmes. This strand of our work forms the basis of a new programme, Implementation Support, which launched in 2022.

Bev has also overseen a significant expansion of the staff team and spearheaded work to increase the organisation’s focus on equity, diversity and inclusion.

Richard Smith, Chair of the Board of Trustees, commented:

“Bev became acting Chief Executive when Jocelyn Cornwell, the founder, stepped down, and steered us magnificently through a difficult time as the pandemic began. It’s a challenge for any organisation when the founder retires, but Bev managed it with great skill and style. The trustees had no hesitation in appointing her as Chief Executive, and she has grown and strengthened the Foundation and increased its influence. She leaves with the organisation in good health. We will miss her, but we would look forward to appointing an equally capable leader to continue our mission of humanising care.”