Meet Our New WellChild Nurses

Rebecca joins WellChild as our newest Long‑Term Ventilation Nurse, bringing with her a rich background in paediatric cardio‑respiratory care and a deep belief in holistic, family‑focused support.

After originally studying psychology, with brief ventures into the legal and HR worlds, Rebecca found her true calling in nursing. She has spent much of her career at the Royal Brompton Hospital, where she flourished in roles such as Lead Neuro Link Nurse, Breastfeeding & Expressing Team Champion, and even Founder of the Brompton Baby Social Club. Her work helped children, including those on NIV and even some intubated, enjoy precious moments outside the ward in gardens, libraries, and local cafés.

Rebecca brings a thoughtful, relationship‑centred approach to care, and is passionate about supporting families as they transition from acute hospital admissions to confident care at home.

We are thrilled to welcome Laura, who joins the team after 10 years as a PICU nurse, with experience spanning the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, Starship Hospital in New Zealand, and most recently, King’s College Hospital, where she served as a Sister in PICU and later as a Practice Development Nurse.

With specialist interests in complex needs, tracheostomies, neurodisability, and long-term ventilation, Laura brings exceptional expertise to supporting children in South London and the South of England as they transition home.

While confident in clinical teaching and hands-on family support, she is excited to learn more about housing, continuing care, and discharge planning, and welcomes advice from colleagues across the network.

Kate brings 14 years of paediatric nursing experience, spanning acute general medicine, community children’s nursing, and most recently, learning disability continuing healthcare commissioning. She is passionate about transition, learning disabilities, and inclusive practice, and is committed to helping keep complex children safe, well, and thriving in school environments.

She is especially excited to help Special School Nurses tap into the expertise of the wider WellChild network and foster collaborative approaches that support children’s health, learning, and independence.

Shauna has joined the WellChild team for a year to provide maternity leave cover, bringing with her a warm enthusiasm for supporting children with complex needs and their families. She is excited to be part of a team and wider network dedicated to coordinating care and safe discharge planning, ensuring every child receives the best possible support throughout their healthcare journey.

We are delighted to welcome Rebecca to the WellChild Nursing Team as our new Respiratory Nurse based at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children.

Rebecca brings a wealth of paediatric experience to the role. She began her nursing career in 2018 at GOSH PICU, working alongside a fantastic team and developing specialist skills in complex care. After five years in London, she returned home to Northern Ireland, where she has since worked across the general medical/respiratory ward and PICU in Belfast. Rebecca also spent a year with AirLiquide, gaining valuable insight into respiratory care outside of the NHS.

Please join us in welcoming Rebecca, Laura, Kate, Shauna and Rebecca to the WellChild community. Their expertise, compassion, and dedication will make a profound difference to the children, young people, and families we support.