The chairman of Garden House Hospice Care has paid a warm tribute to their 'exemplary' outgoing chief executive.

Sue Plummer, chief executive at Garden House Hospice Care, has announced she is to step down from the position, taking up a new role at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

She will leave the Letchworth-based hospice after seven successful years, increasing the range of services available to patients living in North Hertfordshire and their loved ones in response to the growing need for end-of-life care, and driving growth in income.

During her tenure at Garden House she has overseen innovation such as the introduction of the Compassionate Neighbours scheme, dementia and frailty services, and most recently she has steered the organisation through the Covid pandemic.

Garden House Hospice Care chairman Steve Mellish paid a warm tribute to the highly-regarded Sue.

"I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the Board of Trustees to thank Sue for her seven years of service to Garden House Hospice Care," Mr Mellish said, adding: "Sue has provided excellent leadership to the teams and grown the organisation by introducing new services and developing our care.

Mr Mellish was elected as chairman of the Hospice in June 2021, having joined the board as a Trustee in 2016. He was also Chairman of the Board of the Trading Company from 2017 to 2021, which saw significant growth in the company's operations.

He continued: "Her work in leading the Hospice through the Covid-19 pandemic and her work across the wider integrated care network has been exemplary.

"We are really grateful for Sue's commitment and ongoing support. With our new three year strategy, launching in the Autumn it is an exciting time for someone to join the organisation."

The charity has begun its search for a new Chief Executive.

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Garden House Hospice Care supports the communities of Hitchin, Stevenage, Letchworth and the surrounding towns of north Herts as well as villages in Central Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The charity provides personalised and compassionate palliative end of life care for those in need following a diagnosis of a life limiting illness.

If you would like to learn more, or find out how you can volunteer and/or donate to such a worthy cause, click here