RIP Liz Keat
As a team we wanted to pay huge tribute to Liz Keat, who was involved in the IMPROVE programme. Liz appeared in 6 of the IMPROVE programme films, and was a Co-Facilitator for the Leeds Community of Practice.
We were devastated when Liz was diagnosed with a Grade 4 glioblastoma earlier this year, and then died after a rapid illness on June 20th 2026.
Sam says:
‘Liz was an incredible advocate for and within our sector. Fiercely passionate, funny, and inspiring.
I remember when I first met her. She was giving a presentation on her work with the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller community. She told a really touching story about her support for someone at the end of life, and I can remember thinking ‘who is this woman, she’s totally amazing’! I worked with her on a number of projects after that, and she was always thoughtful, larger than life, and a brilliant person to have involved.
Liz was a highly accomplished story teller – often communicating about hugely difficult situations in an personal, accessible, warm and compassionate way. As a result she was always being asked to speak, and was often top of the bill. I suspect she rather hated this, but I always looked forward to the way she would make us all smile, and get us re-energised.
Liz was Queen’s Nurse. The title of Queen’s Nurse (QN) is a prestigious, honorary title awarded to experienced, highly skilled individual nurses who have have demonstrated a high level of commitment to patient care and nursing practice. Liz epitomised this. She was the kind of nurse we all want to be.
I will miss her hugely, as will so very many of my colleagues from the IMPROVE project, Pathway and the London Network of Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Group’
A film about Liz
When filming for the IMPROVE programme we recorded more footage than we needed. We have now used some of the additional footage we had of Liz to make a short film about her, with the assistance of the filming company Flexible Films.
We hope it stands a testament to some of the amazing work she has led on.
Condolences
We would like to offer our sincere condolences to Rob, her four children, her wider family, and all of her close colleagues – in particular to Nicky and Dom, pictured here with Liz and Sam at the start of the Community of Practice in March 2026.
Like everyone we are trying to make sense of this.
Rest in peace Liz.
You will not be forgotten.
Sam, Caroline and Briony.