Jo Upton appointed as the first female Chief Patient Officer, to champion safer, smarter out-of-hospital care
Lloyds Clinical has appointed Jo Upton as its first-ever Chief Patient Officer – and its first female chief – in a landmark move that strengthens the organisation’s senior leadership and reinforces its commitment to reshaping the future of healthcare delivery in the UK.
A visionary leader in healthcare management, Jo brings over two decades of experience across senior clinical, operational, and strategic roles in both the NHS and private sector. Her career spans leadership positions including Director of Nursing and Clinical Services at LloydsPharmacy Clinical Homecare and Lead Chemotherapy Nurse at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. She has also held pivotal roles in research, policy advocacy, and service innovation, with a consistent focus on improving patient outcomes and enabling care closer to home.
At Lloyds Clinical, Jo has already been instrumental in transforming service delivery – from driving a 65% growth in oncology services, dramatically improving nursing attrition, improving access to treatment and significantly improving patient satisfaction scores. Her leadership has helped turn around regulatory ratings, improved patient waiting times, and delivered revenue growth through strategic workforce development.
As Chief Patient Officer, Jo will oversee all aspects of patient experience, clinical innovation, and safety. She will also lead the development of new services in collaboration with NHS and pharmaceutical partners, with a focus on delivering high-quality, personalised care outside of hospital settings.
Jo’s passion for out-of-hospital care is rooted in her extensive experience leading national teams and pioneering nurse-led services. She has championed the clinical homecare agenda at the highest levels, including representing the sector in the House of Lords and chairing the Nursing and Clinical Services Group at the National Clinical Homecare Association. Her work has directly influenced NHS strategy and policy, and she continues to advocate for models of care that are more accessible, efficient, and compassionate.
In addition to her operational leadership, Jo is a published researcher and co-author of several peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including contributions to national guidelines on immunotherapy and cancer care.
Her research has been recognised in journals such as Cancer Nursing Practice, British Journal of Nursing, and The Nursing Times, and she has co-authored a chapter in Fundamentals of Cancer Care. Her clinical trials and audit work have helped identify unmet needs in oncology and improve the management of complex conditions including the development of national guidelines for UKONS.
Jo is also a sought-after public speaker and board advisor, regularly contributing to national conferences and serving as a trustee for health charity the UK Acute Oncology Society. Her leadership has been recognised with multiple accolades, including the Nursing Times Award for Cancer Nursing and finalist positions in the RCNi and HSJ Awards.
“I’ve dedicated my career to making healthcare safer, smarter and more responsive to what patients need – wherever they are. This role is about setting the standard for what great out-of-hospital care looks like and holding ourselves to it, every time. I’m particularly excited to be working even more closely with our NHS partners to co-develop services that support national priorities – from reducing waiting times to delivering more joined-up care. At Lloyds Clinical, we have the people, the scale and the mindset to change the patient journey for good, and I’m proud to help lead that transformation.”
Jo Upton, Chief Patient Officer at Lloyds Clinical
Jo’s appointment comes at a time of continued growth and investment for Lloyds Clinical, which rebranded in 2024 following its separation from LloydsPharmacy. With more than 30 years’ experience delivering complex clinical treatments at home and in the community, the organisation is on a mission to become the UK’s most trusted provider of high-quality, patient-focused care outside the hospital. The creation of this new executive role underscores Lloyds Clinical’s focus on innovation, outcomes and experience – and its ambition to deliver care that’s closer to home and better for patients.
Lloyds Clinical currently supports more than 90,000 patients each year with treatments spanning oncology, nutrition, autoimmune, rare and specialist conditions. With dedicated clinics, two aseptic compounding facilities, over 300 specialist nurses, and 24/7 support, its fully integrated model enables patients to receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.