Daily Insight: Not just any chair

Newly formed £2.4bn hospital group University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and University Hospitals of Leicester Trust has appointed a new chair to start next week.

After a year in post as a non-executive director at UHN, Andrew Moore has been appointed as chair after a “competitive” recruitment process, according to the trust, and will replace John Macdonald, the first group chair, who will retire after a long NHS career.

This appointment follows the national trend of appointing senior retail folk into NHS leaderships roles (for example, Dido Harding, Stuart Rose, Gareth Williams) as Mr Moore has held various senior positions in the sector, including as a senior director at Marks & Spencer, Asda-Walmart, and as chief commercial officer at Wilko.

Of his appointment he said: “We face some tough challenges, which is why our partnership is so important. Our work together as UHN and UHL will help ensure we deliver services in a more sustainable way both now and in the future.”

Although the trusts are yet to formally merge, the appointment of a group CEO in Richard Mitchell last year took their partnership work to a new level. 

Scales recalibrates

The demise of the standalone community trust continues with the departure of Bridgewater’s chief executive Colin Scales.

He has now found work elsewhere, as deputy CEO of the neighbouring Greater Manchester integrated care board. This should now mean a shared leadership model is put in place between Bridgewater Community Healthcare and Warrington and Halton Hospitals.

Nik Khashu was recently appointed interim at WHH for at least two years, so the most likely move would see him lead Bridgewater as well. Although the Bridgewater board says it’s still discussing next moves.

The attentions of system leaders will then turn to another small community trust in Cheshire and Mersey, Wirral Community Health and Care, which they want to see integrated into the local acute.