After six years in the role, the chief executive of Heart of Kent Hospice has announced she is leaving.

Sarah Pugh joined the hospice in Aylesford in June 2014 as Director of Income Generation.

She was appointed chief executive the following year and will remain in post until May.

From then, Mrs Pugh will start her new role as the chief executive at Whizz-Kidz, a charity which supports young wheelchair users.

Over the past six years Mrs Pugh has led Heart of Kent Hospice to be awarded an ‘Outstanding’ rating by the Care Quality Commission, in 2019 the Hospice was awarded Kent Care Charity of the Year, and more recently over the past 11 months, Sarah led the Hospice through the many challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Pugh said: “After a busy and rewarding six years as chief executive of this amazing hospice, I feel that now is the right time to move on.

"I am incredibly proud of everything that has been achieved and the impact that the hospice has on the daily lives of our patients and their loved ones.

"I feel very privileged to have worked alongside such a dedicated team, who are committed to providing the best compassionate care.”

Jim Barker-McCardle, Chair of Trustees said: “Sarah has been a truly outstanding chief executive.

"Under her leadership, in the last six years Heart of Kent Hospice has flourished and we are providing outstanding care to more patients than ever before.

"In her time at the helm Sarah has built great strength in depth in the leadership team and we have fantastic colleagues, volunteers and supporters.

"The Board of Trustees are very sorry indeed that Sarah will be leaving us and will be forever grateful for her legacy - a thriving hospice with a great reputation. We wish her every success at Whizz-Kidz, a wonderful charity.”

Heart of Kent Hospice’s Board of Trustees will make an announcement in due course about the search for Sarah’s replacement.

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