Hugo Lyons, RN - Managing Director
Qualifying as a Registered Nurse in 1992, Hugo worked at University College Hospital (UCH) and other notable NHS and private hospitals in and around London. Hugo established Health Professionals in 1996, in response to the recruitment crisis which then gripped the National Health Service (NHS).
While working at an inner city unit, Hugo noticed an over reliance on agency nurses and realised the value of recruiting from countries like America, Canada, New Zealand and Australia as a way of finding permanent specialist nurses for the NHS. Subsequently, Health Professionals accompanied certain NHS hospitals on a global mission to successfully recruit experienced staff for London NHS single-specialty hospitals, such as Moorfields Eye Hospital, and The Royal Brompton Hospital (Cardiothoracic).
Hugo also holds a Law degree and today, oversees overall operations and manages the company’s IT infrastructure and website portals.
Hugo and the team are also assisted by Oliver Woolley MA Operations Support to Health Professionals.
Michele Jogee, RN, Registered Manager
Michele has been associated with Health Professionals for over seven years, and with more than twenty five years’ specialised nursing experience, is ideally placed to advise our nurses on career progression, and our clients on the best possible nursing solution for their organisations.
As Registered Manager she is responsible for managing both local and global recruitment for Health Professionals, and also directs our Homecare Division within central and outer London, and UK-wide. Michele supports, motivates and invests in her team and values their commitment to delivering a service of excellence;, which recently resulted in Homecare achieving a prestigious 3 star rating with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Her ability to proactively and reactively manage the needs of our patients, and our nurses, across a diverse specialist care schedule – often 24/7 – is as much testimony to her experience and skill, as to her calm and sensitive manner.
Michele’s clinical expertise includes a significant period working as a specialist nurse within NHS, and private hospitals, and she also worked as a District Nurse in Westminster.
She is passionate about meeting the physical and cultural needs of a varied client group across the capital and beyond, ensuring that coexistence and harmony prevail. Previously, she Michele jointly project managed the first purpose built multi cultural award winning extra care retirement housing development in North London. This project was recognised and highlighted as an example of good practice by the Institute of Housing, the Housing Corporation Communities and Local Government, and the BBC You & Yours Programme.
Jennie Lyons, Recruitment Administration Manager
Jennie Lyons is a senior member of the Health Professionals management team and her responsible and responsive role includes coordinating the training and registration process for our UK and overseas temporary and permanent nurses, in accordance with compliance as well as ensuring our key client's receive the best service from Health Professionals.
Jennie has made a significant contribution to the growth of Health Professionals, and is a valued member of our recruitment team. Jennie also manages our experienced support team members and Nurse Interviewers (Karen, Lauren, Carol, Eamonn and Wendy) in the London office.
Deborah Preston, Specialist Recruitment Consultant
Deborah has extensive experience in helping national and global healthcare organisations to find senior positions, in often-complex recruitment projects. She also has sound knowledge and understanding of large organisations such as the Ministry of Defence in the UK, as well as Germany, and the NHS, having worked for both sectors during her recruitment and administrative career.
Since joining Health Professionals over three years ago, Deborah has become a vital part of our specialist nursing team.
Elaine Parsons, RN– Specialist Oncology Nurse Homecare Coordinator
With a history of general nursing and some six years in the field of oncology, Elaine is chemotherapy-competent.
Elaine joined the Health Professionals Homecare in 2008, when she relocated from Northern Ireland as a specialist oncology nurse delivering oncology/palliative nursing care, to many of our oncology patients within their own homes.
As one of our committed temporary nurses, she quickly demonstrated a flexible approach to her role and soon developed an interest in our Homecare booking service. So, following a successful period of relief cover, and the completion of an intense training programme, she joined our office team which enabled her to progress into her current role.
Elaine has greatly, and sensitively, contributed to the growth in this area of our service applying her knowledge and experience of caring for terminally ill patients and vulnerable adults in need of a personal care service.
Emma Ryder, Interim Payroll Officer
Emma maintains our staff and temporary nurse payroll, and company accounts, with absolute precision from our Knightsbridge headquarters. We prefer to manage our payroll in-house, taking our personal care ethos into every area of our business.
Accounts Technician Emma Ryder is experienced with all aspects of payroll and has become a firm part of our team over the past year.
Sara Oktemgil, BA, MA – Systems Support
Sara is responsible for the careful administration involved in managing our complex business systems. Sara has been a member of our team for over two years and takes on the responsibility of our IT, Accounting and Support Systems to ensure the smoothest and quickest possible process for candidates and clients alike, when they engage our services.