Hayley was appointed as the Chief Nurse, Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust in January 2022.

Hayley became the executive director of patient care at Musgrove Park Hospital in September 2015, having joined the trust as deputy director of nursing in July 2013. Hayley went on to become the chief nurse for both Taunton and Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in November 2017 before the two trusts merged to form Somerset NHS Foundation Trust in April 2020. Prior to becoming an executive, Hayley worked in senior clinical leadership roles in the South West, London and the South East. Hayley’s early professional career centred in critical care, first as an intensive care nurse and later, following a period of training at Birmingham Medical School, as one of the very first physician’s assistants to practise in the UK. As part of Hayley’s role at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, she has executive responsibility for safeguarding, patient safety and quality (jointly with the chief medical officer). Hayley is board safety champion for our armed forces, children, maternity and neonates.