Professor Denise Thiruchelvam has joined Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as a non-executive director.
A nurse and health visitor by professional background, Professor Thiruchelvam will be the clinical non-exec representative, replacing Amanda Fadero on the Trust Board.
Professor Denise Thiruchelvam
Most recently, Denise was director of nursing at The Queen’s Institute of Community Nursing.
Before this, she was chief nursing officer and director of infection prevention and control at NHS Blood and Transplant. Her executive portfolio included clinical governance, safeguarding and nursing professional standards. Alongside this, she was the senior responsible officer for implementing the recommendations of the infected blood inquiry.
Denise has held executive nursing and quality roles in independent organisations delivering NHS services, including CSH Surrey and Children and Family Health Surrey. She was also executive lead for quality and governance at the North West Surrey Health and Care Alliance.
Her wider career spans frontline clinical practice, national NHS organisations, local government, public health, health protection and integrated health and care systems. This includes working with the chief nursing officer’s national team at NHS England.
She has also been appointed to the NICE Quality Standards Advisory Committee (QSAC) and is a visiting professor at the University of Surrey.
"I am delighted to be joining Royal Papworth Hospital as a non-executive director," said Professor Thiruchelvam.
"My early impressions are of an organisation with a real sense of purpose. Walking through the hospital and meeting colleagues, I was struck by the shared commitment, from the clinical floor to the boardroom, to achieving the best possible outcomes for patients and their families, alongside a genuine focus on staff wellbeing.
"Royal Papworth has an outstanding reputation for clinical excellence, pioneering research and innovation, but what has stayed with me most is the warmth, pride and dedication of the people I have met.
"Throughout my career, I have been passionate about social justice, improving quality and safety, reducing inequalities and making sure that health services use their resources responsibly to make the greatest possible difference for patients, families and communities.
"I am really looking forward to bringing my experience in nursing, public health, quality and system leadership to the Board and supporting Royal Papworth’s mission to transform what is possible for patients with heart and lung conditions through outstanding care and thriving teams."
Professor Thiruchelvam began her role on 3 September 2026 at the Trust Board meeting.