About
Jo Simmons is the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Matron for University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust, providing IPC leadership and specialist support across St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester, Worthing Hospital, and Southlands Hospital.
Jo qualified as a Registered General Nurse (RGN) in 1991, having trained at St Richard’s Hospital, Chichester. Following qualification, she gained extensive clinical experience on acute medical wards before progressing to the role of Junior Sister, a position she held for nine years. This strong clinical background has provided a solid foundation for her work in infection prevention and control.
Since joining the Infection Prevention and Control team in 2012, Jo has developed substantial expertise across a range of IPC disciplines. Her specialist interests include water safety, theatre ventilation, healthcare-associated infection prevention, environmental infection control, and the implementation of evidence-based practices to improve patient safety and quality of care.
Jo has been an active member of the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) since 2012 and is committed to advancing infection prevention practice through professional development, collaboration, and knowledge sharing. In 2025, she presented a poster at the IPS Annual Conference in Brighton, showcasing innovative work and contributing to the wider IPC community.
In August 2026, Jo was appointed Deputy Coordinator of the Infection Prevention Society Wessex Branch, supporting regional engagement, professional networking, and the promotion of best practice in infection prevention across the Wessex area.
Throughout her IPC career, Jo has worked closely with multidisciplinary teams, estates and facilities professionals, contractors, and senior leaders to support compliance with national standards and develop effective infection prevention strategies. She is passionate about promoting a culture of safety, continuous improvement, and excellence in patient care across University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
