One of the country’s largest teaching Trusts has today announced the appointment of their new Chief Executive Officer.
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, (UHL) will, from autumn 2021 be led by Richard Mitchell, currently the Chief Executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
UHL Acting Chairman, John MacDonald said, “I am delighted that after a rigorous search and a strong field of candidates we have appointed Richard to be the Trust’s new Chief Executive. He comes with a strong track record, such that with Richard’s leadership, Sherwood Forest was recently awarded Acute Trust of the Year in the Health Service Journal Awards and is one of the top performing NHS organisations in the national staff survey. The main hospital, Kings Mill, was also rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission”.
Richard (pictured right) has worked in a number of senior operational roles in Guy’s and St Thomas’, Imperial College Hospital and in more recent years was the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy CEO at UHL before becoming Chief Exec’ at Sherwood.
Richard said, “I am delighted to be joining UHL as Chief Executive. My family and I have lived in Leicestershire for eight years and our two children were born at UHL. It will be a privilege to be part of the team again and I am confident we will further improve patient care and the experiences colleagues have at UHL.
“Recognising how tough the last 18 months have been for us all in our working and personal lives, I do feel optimistic and confident about the Trust’s future. I know the planned investment and reconfiguration coupled with even closer working with partners gives us a great opportunity to permanently transform LLR and UHL. I am very excited to be part of the team.”
Paying tribute to the Acting Chief Executive, Rebecca Brown, John MacDonald said, “Rebecca has been a fantastic Acting Chief Executive over the last 16 months, leading us through the most difficult time the NHS has ever faced and she has done so with compassion, integrity and commitment. Rebecca will continue to lead us until Richard arrives in autumn”.
Rebecca Brown said, “It has been the greatest honour of my career and a privilege to be the UHL Chief Executive during these most difficult months of the pandemic. I am so proud of all that the team have achieved and I am confident that, with their support and encouragement, Richard will lead team UHL successfully through the next part of the journey”.
Claire Ward, Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: “I want to take this opportunity to thank Richard publicly, on behalf of our Board, our colleagues and our patients for his leadership over the past four years and his commitment to helping Sherwood to continuously improve and to become a truly great place to work and to receive care.
“We will all miss Richard, but I congratulate him on his new role and I am sure he will be a great success at Leicester. He is leaving Sherwood in safe hands, with a strong leadership team, strong relationships with our partners and clear plans for continued growth and improvement.
“I wish Richard all the best for the future and am pleased that he remains as part of our regional NHS family.”
UHL Trust Chairman concluded by saying, “Richard is joining us at a pivotal moment; we are full steam ahead on our plans to invest millions in the transformation of our hospitals, we are a key partner in the development of the Integrated Care System and we are making good progress on returning the Trust to a sustainable financial position. I am looking forward to working with him and the whole team at UHL as we continue to improve our services for the benefit of the people we serve”.
For more information please contact:
communications@uhl-tr.nhs.uk (University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust)
sfh-tr.communications@nhs.net | 01623 622515 (Sherwood Forest Hospitals)
