Meet our specialist Children's nurses

Our Children’s nurses understand both the importance to parents and children of being ‘listened to’ and the difference that delivering the appropriate clinical care to children in an environment which is tailored for children can make.

We fully appreciate that bringing your child into hospital can be an anxious time for the whole family which is why we offer parents and carers the opportunity for children to visit the hospital in advance of their operation so that they are familiar with the hospital environment and can meet the nurses who will be looking after them.

Lisa Warr

Lead CYP Nurse

I qualified as a Paediatric nurse in 2002 from De Montfort University and went on to complete my Degree in Nursing. I began my nursing career at the Children’s East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC) caring for children from birth to 18 years with a wide variety of cardiac conditions. During my 20 years working as a Cardiology nurse, I developed my knowledge and skills to great depths and was able to achieve my Deputy Sister role as well as becoming a student educator. In 2017 myself and my family took a year out to work in Australia. I worked as a Children’s Nurse at Perth Children’s hospital and then in a private hospital and although grateful for the experience we have all had, we returned home to the UK! I returned to work at EMCHC as a Deputy Sister and stayed there until the end of 2023. In January 2024 I commenced my role as CYP Lead at Spire, Leicester. I really enjoy my role at Spire and am extremely passionate about growing our service. I have achieved allergy nurse specialist training and have successfully implemented skin prick allergy testing at Spire, Leicester. During my time here, I am proud to see how much the service has grown, not only from an inpatient side, but also for our outpatients. I have successfully completed European Paediatric Advanced Life Support training and am currently leading the hospital towards an autism accreditation.

I live with my husband, Paul, and we have two children. We are extremely proud of our son, who is a police officer and our daughter, who we home educate. We spend as much time as we can outside in our allotment, being creative and trying to get to the sea for some paddle boarding and surfing!

Hannah Snow

Deputy Lead CYP Nurse

I qualified as a Paediatric Nurse in 2009 from De Montfort University with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree. As a newly qualified Children’s Nurse my rotation began on the Children’s Assessment Unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary giving me a broad skills and knowledge base. I then moved to the Children’s High Dependency Unit where I cared for children with acute and chronic illnesses - often life threatening. I thrived in this intense and emotional environment finding nursing children with respiratory illnesses - especially those on long term ventilation - particularly rewarding. In 2014 I took up a three-month placement at the Children’s East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre (EMCHC) caring for children from birth to 18 years with a wide variety of cardiac conditions.

I have been working at Spire, Leicester since 2019 and am now the Deputy CYP Lead. I absolutely love the variety my job provides, and I thrive on creating a positive experience for all my patients and their families. I have completed my European Paediatric Advanced Life Support training and I am also a Mental Health First Aider.

I live with my partner and am mum to two very adventurous and energetic children plus one dog! My daughter is a competitive swimmer and my son is a county tennis player! When I’m not at work, I’m driving my children to wherever they need to be! I enjoy spending time with my family and friends especially if it involves a spa environment!! To relax, I like a cup of tea and a biscuit or a long walk with my dog.

Alicia Gartshore 

Senior Staff Nurse

I qualified as a paediatric nurse in 2014 from De Montfort University with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree. In addition to this, I am a qualified mentor and assessor and since starting here at Spire I have successfully completed my Level 4 Safeguarding training and gained an Advanced Paediatric Life Support qualification.

I began my nursing career on a general surgical ward at the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI) where I developed a keen interest in Paediatric Orthopaedics. I spent four years as a staff nurse gaining experience and a variety of clinical skills on both paediatric surgical wards at the LRI, before taking on the role of Paediatric Orthopaedic Deputy Sister.

I joined the CYP team at Spire Leicester Hospital in November 2019 as the Deputy Lead for Children and Young People Services and am passionate and enthusiastic about the continuing development of the Children and Young Peoples service. When my husband and I started our family, I made the decision to step down to Senior staff nurse. I absolutely love being Mum to my two gorgeous daughters. I also support my husband with his growing number of pubs to run!

Kerry Ball

Senior Staff Nurse

I qualified as a paediatric nurse in 1997 at Wolverhampton University with a diploma in higher education. I have an ENB 998 in Teaching and Assessing which enables me to teach and support student nurses.

I started my nursing career on a general children’s ward at Queen’s Hospital in Burton on Trent, working my way up to senior staff nurse level. My experience covers medical, surgical, orthopaedic, high dependency, neonatal, emergency and psychiatric nursing. I was an established team leader and link children’s nurse for infant feeding, bereavement and palliative care. I took some time away from the ward in 2002, spending a year working as a school nursing sister in a residential school for children with learning and communication difficulties before returning to Queen's Hospital as a senior staff nurse.

I joined Spire Leicester Hospital in 2012, where I worked full time until July 2016 to help establish the new services for children. I returned briefly to the NHS to work on the children’s surgical and medical day case ward at Derby Children’s Hospital while continuing to work as a bank nurse at Spire, supporting the paediatric team before returning permanently in August 2019. 

I am qualified in Advanced Paediatric Life Support, paediatric phlebotomy and vaccination.

Outside of work, I am a proud mum of two and also have two fur babies – crazy rescue dogs! I love cooking, knitting and have taught myself to crochet and can just about manage to make a woolly hat!

Sarah Hirst

Senior Staff Nurse

I qualified as a children’s nurse in 2010 at De Montfort University in Leicester, beginning my career as a newly qualified nurse on the paediatric high dependency unit at the Leicester Royal Infirmary. I cared for children with acute and chronic conditions often requiring emergency, life-saving care. I loved my role and spent a further five years on the unit developing a variety of skills.

In 2015 I moved to the East Midlands Congenital Heart Centre at Glenfield Hospital to be a part of the children’s cardiac team. Here I cared for a variety of young people, from tiny newborn babies requiring immediate intervention after birth, up to teenagers requiring surgery or on-going medical treatment.

Along the way I completed a variety of courses including Leadership and Management, Mentorship and Advance Paediatric Life Support.

In October 2019 I made the exciting move to join the Children and Young People’s team at Spire Leicester. I am thoroughly enjoying nursing here and am happy to be part of a passionate, dedicated team! In 2025 I completed the European Paediatric Advanced Life Support course and I am proud to be a youth mental health first aider.

Outside of work I am mum to my little girl, who is full of life and keeps me on my toes; a football mad, chatterbox of a son and I am step-mum to a beautiful dancing queen! My animal children are my dog and my birds. I love to spend time having fun and making memories with my family.