Hospital leader reflects on 42-year NHS career ahead of retirement

One of our Executive leaders, who worked her way to the top after starting her NHS career as a nurse, is preparing to retire after 42 years’ service.

Interim Deputy Chief Executive Siobhan Callanan joined the nursing profession in 1984 after she was inspired by her mother, who was also a nurse.

After moving from a small Irish town to London she began her nursing training at The Whittington and Royal Northern hospitals in London, before working at Moorfields Eye Hospital where she trained to specialise in ophthalmology.

Following a three month break, which saw her traveling around America while she contemplated whether to pursue a different career or not, Siobhan returned to Moorfields where she helped set up the first satellite day care surgery unit while also studying for a degree in English and social history.

Her career later took her to the Kent County Ophthalmic and Aural Hospital and thereafter to Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust where she worked for 21 years before joining Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust as Deputy Chief Nurse and then Chief Nurse just six months later.

In 2025 Siobhan joined Medway NHS Foundation Trust as Interim Deputy Chief Executive, and went on to become Interim Chief Executive earlier this year. During her time at Medway, she has played a key role in strengthening patient safety, promoting transparency and supporting cultural change.