About us

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is responsible to its regulator, NHS England, for all aspects of the Trust's work, including maintaining standards, achieving targets set by the Government (e.g. waiting time targets) and achieving financial balance. 

Please note we are working on making our board papers fully accessible by the end of December 2024. If you need any of the documents on this page in an accessible format, please contact ekh-tr.communications@nhs.net.

For more information, see our Accessibility statement.

Join the next Board of Directors meeting

To be held on Thursday 3 October 2024

How to join the meeting

Future Board of Directors meetings

Please note that these dates may be subject to change - please check near the date before attending.

  • Thursday 5 December 2024

  • Thursday 6 February 2025.

Reading the Signals Oversight Group

The next meeting of the Reading the Signals Oversight Group will be held on 17 September 2024 at the Boardroom, Kent and Canterbury Hospital, Ethelbert Road, Canterbury CT1 3NG or via Webex.

Our Board of Directors

Tracey Fletcher

Tracey Fletcher

Chief Executive

Read more
Stewart Baird

Stewart Baird

Chair

Read more
Des Holden

Dr Des Holden

Chief Medical Officer

Read more
Sarah Hayes

Sarah Hayes

Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer

Read more
Rob Hodgkiss

Rob Hodgkiss

Chief Operating Officer

Read more
Ben Stevens

Ben Stevens

Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer

Read more
Natalie Yost

Natalie Yost

Executive Director of Communications and Engagement

Read more
Tim Glenn

Tim Glenn

Interim Chief Finance Officer

Read more
Debbie Viner

Debbie Viner

Interim Chief People Officer

Read more
Khaleel Desai

Khaleel Desai

Director of Corporate Governance

Dr Olu Olasode

Dr Olu Olasode

Senior Independent Director

Read more
Professor Chris Holland

Professor Chris Holland

Associate Non-Executive Director

Read more
Simon Corben

Simon Corben

Non-Executive Director

Read more
Dr Andrew Catto

Dr Andrew Catto

Non-Executive Director

Read more
Richard Oirschot

Richard Oirschot

Non-Executive Director

Read more
Claudia Sykes

Claudia Sykes

Non-Executive Director

Read more

Guidance on Board meetings held in public

A meeting in public is where members of the public can attend to observe a formal meeting of a Board. Observers can see the Board in action and the decisions it makes but are not allowed to join the discussion, or take part in the meeting in other ways. However, members of the public are able to ask questions at the end of the formal business.

Questions from the public

We welcome questions from the public – they are an important mechanism for the leadership of the Trust to engage with and hear and learn from the people we serve. They enable us to demonstrate our commitment to openness and the fact that we are accountable.

If you would like to ask a question, it would be helpful if you could do so in advance. This allows us to group similar questions together, answer as fully as possible, and make the best use of time.

To send in a question please email Sylvia Robson. The Chairman may not be able to cover all questions, but every one of them will be recorded in the minutes and responded to on our website alongside the meeting papers.

Please submit your question by 12.00 noon the day before the meeting.

There will of course be some issues, such as individual concerns or complaints, or general media queries which may be better handled through our various routes for enquiries:

Advanced booking

We have limited spaces at our meetings, so we do ask those wishing to attend to reserve a place in advance. If the public seating is full, we will not be able to allow entry to anyone without a booking.

Many of our meetings are now in person but with a facility for people to join online.

Queries before the meeting

When you register to observe a meeting in public, we will use your contact details to confirm the meeting arrangements or send you the link to join virtually. When you submit a question, we will use your contact details to confirm we have received it.

We will not retain your contact details beyond the date of the meeting that you wish to observe and/or have submitted a question to.

Meeting etiquette

Please keep noise and distractions to a minimum during the meeting to allow everyone to follow the proceedings. The following can be distracting:

  • Talking while another person is speaking

  • Use of mobile telephones. Please switch your phone off or put it on silent mode

  • Laptop keyboard noise. Please don’t type during the meeting.

If you are joining virtually

The chat and Q&A functions will be disabled.

Arrival

The meeting will begin promptly, so please arrive in plenty of time. On arrival, you will be asked to sign in, so we can keep an accurate record of attendance.

If you are joining virtually, we recommend that you log on 5-10 minutes before the scheduled start time.

Accessible venues

Venues will have disabled access. Please let us know in advance if you have any specific requirements. We will have staff on hand on the day to support you.

Microphones and hearing loops

To support everyone to hear speakers, there will be microphones and a hearing loop.

Papers for the meeting

We will make the meeting papers available before the meeting via our website. The minutes and responses to questions raised will be published on our website. Minutes are normally approved at the next meeting of the Board.

Thank you for agreeing to this etiquette and for your interest and attendance at our public Board meeting.

FAQs