- Former nurse finds a new career path in procurement and healthcare transformation
- Now leads inventory management programme to improve patient safety and efficiency
- Sarah Ashworth says she’s still caring for patients, just in a different way
“I didn’t realise you could be a nurse and not wear a uniform, still out there caring, just in a different way.”
A former nurse who once spent years caring for patients on the frontline is now helping transform healthcare behind the scenes, continuing to make a difference in a new way.
After more than 15 years working as a nurse, including roles in theatres and the Emergency Department, Programme Manager Sarah Ashworth has taken a career journey from clinical practice into procurement and innovation with Bolton NHS Foundation Trust’s estates and facilities partner, iFM Bolton.
Inspired to become a nurse from a young age after seeing the care her grandfather received at Royal Bolton Hospital, she achieved her ambition in 2003 and proudly spent her career supporting patients at their bedside.
However, a change in her health in 2017 meant she had to consider a different path.
“I felt quite sad at the time and thought my career was over. Nursing was something I’d dreamed of since I was a little girl. But finding procurement sparked a new interest for me.”
With support from colleagues, she began to learn more about the world of procurement, working closely with theatre teams to manage medical devices and supplier contracts. Drawing on her clinical experience, she was able to help ensure staff had access to the right products at the right price while maintaining high standards of patient care.
Sarah added:
“It made me feel like I still had the ability to make a difference and help people.”
In 2024, a new opportunity came up to lead the rollout of the Trust’s Genesis Inventory Management System, a major transformation programme designed to improve stock management, traceability and patient safety.
“I was nervous about leaving something I’d known for so long, but I was welcomed into the team and supported to learn the additional skills I needed.”
Working with colleagues across the Trust, Sarah was part of a team who helped drive one of the organisation’s most significant change programmes, introducing new ways of working across multiple departments.
As Genesis Programme Manager, she has developed new skills in strategic thinking, communication and leadership while supporting teams to embrace change.
One standout moment came when Sarah and her line manager, Nikki Kenny, represented Bolton at the GS1 Conference in London, sharing the Trust’s inventory management journey with a national audience.
Sarah said:
“It was definitely outside my comfort zone. I’d never spoken in front of that many people before, but we supported each other and showcased how far Bolton had come. After that experience, I don’t think I’ll ever feel those nerves in quite the same way again.”
While encouraging changes in practice can sometimes be challenging, she says the opportunity to improve services on a larger scale has been rewarding.
“What I value most now is the ability to influence change in a meaningful and lasting way. My impact is no longer limited to individual patient interactions. Instead, I can contribute to improvements that benefit patients, staff and services across the organisation.
“It has shown me that healthcare influence doesn’t only happen at the bedside. It happens through conversations, ideas, leadership and the courage to do things differently.”
Reflecting on her career, Sarah says the move into procurement and innovation has reminded her why she joined the NHS in the first place.
“Looking back, it hasn’t always been easy, but it has been incredibly worthwhile. Most importantly, it has reinforced why I chose a career in healthcare: to make a difference.”
Today, Sarah is proud to be helping shape the future of healthcare delivery at iFM Bolton, ensuring innovation and collaboration continue to benefit patients and staff alike.
To see what current career opportunities are available at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, check out the ‘Work with us’ section of our website.
