The Primary Care Respiratory Society (PCRS) has appointed Lynn Ladbrook as its chief executive.
The experienced healthcare charity leader – who has taken over from Anne Smith – was CEO for Breast Cancer UK (BCUK) for eight years and, more recently, interim CEO of Cavernoma Alliance UK (CAUK).
She brings experience in communications, political lobbying and public affairs, and has represented organisations in high-level meetings with government, the NHS and Public Health England.
Commenting on her recent appointment, Ms Ladbrook said: ‘I am of course delighted to be the next CEO of PCRS. It is always a real privilege and a pleasure to work with people who are passionate, knowledgeable and experienced.
‘PCRS is comprised of clinicians, practitioners, commissioners and policy experts who really know their stuff. The result is a professional society that offers its members some of the best quality guidance, resources, events, policy insights and research in the field of respiratory care.
‘I’m looking forward to working with this fabulous team and contributing as much as I can to the growth, effectiveness and reach of PCRS so that policymakers, commissioners, clinicians and patients alike can benefit from this collective knowledge.’
Her aim, and that of the PCRS, she said, is to ‘achieve better outcomes for patients’, by ‘supporting scientific research to better understand respiratory conditions’, shaping national policy, influencing and promoting best practices, listening to patients and supporting the workforce in its welfare and professional development.
Covid-19 pandemic challenges
Ms Ladbrook has taken up her new role during the testing period of the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘Whilst Covid-19 has impacted the way PCRS does business and affected certain priorities and timelines, PCRS, like so many healthcare professionals, has responded and adapted to the crisis,’ she said.
The pandemic has undoubtedly raised the external profile of respiratory illness, she suggested. One role of PCRS is to deliver best practice and pragmatic guidance for practitioners. ‘Covid-19 has possibly brought this role more sharply into focus for some.’
In the short-term, Ms Ladbrook said she will focus on continuing to facilitate ‘innovative’ and ‘agile’ ways of responding to the crisis, and in future will work to ensure policymakers and society, more broadly, learns and grows from the pandemic. This includes scientific lessons and technological practices, such as using remote consultations and virtual rehab.
PCRS membership and resources
‘Join us!,’ invited Ms Ladbrook, encouraging anyone interested to take a look at the clinical resources, guidance, professional development and events (all virtual currently) and more that PCRS membership has to offer.
‘There has never been a more important time to keep up with the latest research and guidance, never a more critical need to access support, education and leadership skills – and PCRS is a great resource,’ she said.
‘I would urge anyone in the respiratory care community who does not already know about us, or who is not already a member to take a look at our website and consider joining us.’
