Meet the women of Nuffield Health - Maxine Estop Green

Name and role

Maxine Estop Green, London Hospital Development Director 

Can you tell us about your role at Nuffield Health?

I am the Hospital Director for our new City of London hospital, Nuffield Health at St Bartholomew’s. I am leading the project to construct and commission the hospital, which is due to open in 2021. Once the hospital is open, I will be responsible for operating the new facility.  

My job can vary from reviewing the construction and design element of the new build to overseeing what we need to do to prepare for the hospital becoming operational.  

I have worked for Nuffield Health for ten years and directed the construction and management of our hospital in Cambridge, which opened in 2015 and was the first independent hospital to receive an ‘outstanding’ rating from the CQC. It’s an absolute privilege to go on this journey again, especially to head up our new flagship hospital in London. 

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It’s an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to date on gender equality.  It is also an opportunity to call for change in places where this is still not balanced. 

International Women’s Day should be a time to celebrate those inspirational ladies who have made history by sacrificing their lives to fight for the future rights of women and many other causes across the world.  

What do you think is the biggest challenge for women today and what has been your biggest challenge?

Amongst many challenges, I feel that there is much work to be done to encourage women to feel they can balance a career and family life.  In many organisations, there still needs to be more women at the table to have a voice and bring a different perspective to business in general. 

I think that Nuffield Health has come a long way in the last 10 years. We work in a very fair, non-gender biased workplace and this can be seen across all levels of the organisation, from having more female senior leaders, as well as the equality we see in the hospital operational roles as well. As a healthcare charity, we have some fantastic doctors and nurses giving inspirational care on a daily basis and it doesn’t matter what gender they are. 

Personally, my biggest challenge throughout my career has been to spend quality time with my children whilst balancing a senior role. I know many working mums who battle with their own personal guilt about not being with their children 24/7.    

Which woman has inspired you and why?

Aside from the very inspirational women I have in my close family such as my mum and my sister, the women I admire the most are often unknown. They are women who have survived their own personal tragedies in their lives and then gone on to help and inspire others by sharing their stories or experiences no matter how painful it may be.

Last updated Friday 6 March 2020

First published on Friday 6 March 2020