Governors at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn have appointed Professor Steve Barnett as the Trust’s Interim Chair.
Professor Barnett, who has more than three decades of experience working in senior NHS positions, will take up the post on 9 November.
He is no stranger to The QEH, having previously supported the Trust’s work on the quality improvement programme, which saw the Trust exit special measures in 2015.
Professor Barnett said: “This is a challenging time for The QEH and I would like to thank Governors for inviting me to take up this important role.
“There is a great deal of work to be done, much of which must be undertaken at pace. My first tasks will be to ensure that the leadership team have the support they need to deliver on the Board’s priorities and that our staff and stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to our quality improvement plan. It will be important for myself and leaders within the trust to get onto the wards and other areas of the hospital, to listen to the views of patients and frontline staff. I already know from my previous time at the Trust just how committed and caring our QEH staff are and I am entirely confident that we have the right building blocks to secure effective and sustainable improvements.”
Professor Barnett will serve at both The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and West Herts Hospitals NHS Trust where he has been Chair for the last three years, during which time it was removed from special measures.
Lead Governor, Esme Corner said: “Steve brings with him a wealth of top level NHS experience, which will be invaluable as the Trust moves forward with its improvement programme.
“Governors felt the fact that he has this experience, his clear focus on our patients and our staff, combined with the fact he has successfully served as a Chair and is already familiar with our hospital, make him the right appointment at this important juncture.”
—ENDS—
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