Catherine Withers

Catherine began her healthcare career 25 years ago in the independent sector and joined the NHS in 2006. With a focus on acute operational leadership, she has managed nearly every speciality in an acute setting, addressing challenges such as waiting list backlogs, increasing productivity, and upskilling the workforce. Since 2016, Catherine has specialised in Urgent and Emergency Care, with a focus on service integration and improving patient flow.

In 2019, Catherine returned to an acute setting to manage Emergency Care, just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. In 2021, she moved into a regional role with NHS England, supporting hospital sites to enhance their Urgent and Emergency Care services. She spent two years embedded in an ICB, leading a system-wide discharge programme. Today, Catherine and her team continue to support hospital sites by sharing best practices and driving sustainable performance.  

She understands the pressures of working in UEC personally and is always keen to talk about her experiences when it might help others.