Jon Willis Ward Manager, Inpatient Unit

About me

Jon is a Health Foundation Leadership Fellow and Ward Manager, Inpatient Unit at Dorothy House Hospice.

At the time of his fellowship, Jon was a Ward Manager at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust and had been seconded to the role of project lead on patient safety at the Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust (RUH). His main focus was in detecting and intervening on patients who deteriorate in the ward environment.

From 2008 to 2017 he ran an internationally recognised award wining Elderly Care Ward at the Royal United Hospital in Bath. Combe Ward in association with The King's Fund has been at the forefront of providing exemplary care for patients with dementia in the acute sector. It is a beacon site that constantly attracts visitors from other organisations to see high quality dementia care in operation and to view how an adaptive environment can influence behaviour and care.

Prior to this, he was acting modern matron responsible for the respiratory, gastroenterology, and dermatology departments. During that period Jon's role ensured the provision of good quality care for the patient in a safe environment by linking the work of clinicians, senior managers and nursing staff. 

Improvements instigated by Jon had radically speeded up the admission of patients from A&E and freed up 15 hours of nursing care a day that can be spent on patient care. Jon qualified as a nurse in 1996 after previously working in a bank and as a financial consultant. Among his achievements at the RUH, which he joined in 2002, have been improvements in the medical admissions unit. This included extra help for patients during mealtimes, training and appraisals for staff and better organised rotas.