A former Harley Street staff nurse who has worked alongside some of the world’s leading doctors is the new Registered Manager of Birch Green Care Home.

Catherine Shawarby, aged 54, took up her post last month at the Skelmersdale home vowing to put her vast professional experience into practice for the benefit of its elderly residents.

“My standards are high and I do strive for the best. Older people deserve the best. I say that from the heart,” she announced.

After qualifying as a Registered General Nurse in the North East, where she grew up, Catherine moved to London to work in the private sector.

“The contrast between what was provided in the NHS and what was provided within the private sector was great even back then,” she recalls.

“Resources were never an issue and you could give patients that bit more time and make a greater difference.”

As a staff nurse at The Harley Street Clinic – where world famous heart surgeon Magdi Yacoub practised - Catherine nursed patients of top doctors back to health.

“Patients were flown in from all over the world so I got to meet lots of people from different countries and gained a wide variety of experience.”

Lured by the sunshine, in her mid twenties she moved to Egypt intending to work as an SRN in Cairo for just one year.  Eleven years later she returned to England to settle in Westhoughton, Lancashire, with a husband and two children!

After working as a night nurse in a nursing home to fit in with raising her young children, Catherine went into home management in 1991, gaining a Management Level 5 NVQ in 1995.

She moved into the training sector in 1998, where she spent five years as a consultant for a not for profit company.  During this time she studied Gerontology at Masters level at Salford University.

Putting into practise her new knowledge and skills, she returned as a Registered Manager for a Manchester home in 2003.   Earlier this year she was attracted to the Springhill Care Group, which owns Birch Green.

She said: “I was very impressed by their ‘patient first’ ethos and I liked the management style.  They wanted the right person and I wanted the right job!”

After a “gruelling” interview, Catherine accepted the post and began work at the Ivydale home on April 20.

“Since I’ve been here, I’ve been impressed by the standards already in place.”

“ It is already officially rated a ‘good’ home and I am sure it will soon be ‘excellent’ judging from the staff we have got here.”

Springhill’s Operations Director Donna Briggs said: “Catherine’s professional nursing experience has certainly been diverse. Her commitment to nursing care shone out at her interview and we are delighted to welcome her as Registered Manager of Birch Green.”

When not working, Catherine enjoys spending time with husband Amr (54) and their grown up children Sally (22) and Kareem (24). She is a keen gardener and loves travelling.