Matthew Kershaw, chief executive of East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, is leaving the Trust to take up a post as a Senior Fellow with the health think tank, The King’s Fund. Matthew will be focusing on the development of Accountable Care Systems, Sustainability and Transformation Plans and new forms of provider organisations.
Matthew said, “I was appointed chief executive at the Trust in 2015 and since then we have made good progress improving patient care in a number of areas, notably coming out of quality special measures in February 2017. It has been a privilege to lead such incredibly hard-working staff who are so committed to continually raising standards for patients. Over the last two years we have worked together very hard and made improvements in performance, developed an emerging strategy for improved healthcare in east Kent with our partner health and social care organisations, and continued to build on our improving internal culture of the Trust as a place to work. We have also made a strong start on improving our finances.
“We have not, however, made as much progress as we would have liked with respect to performance on waiting times in emergency care. In this Trust, as in many Trusts around the country, there remains much to be done in order to deliver this and I think this is an appropriate time for me to hand over the executive leadership of the Trust to somebody who will further progress this work.
“We have many terrific staff in the NHS in East Kent and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their tremendous support, hard work and passion for patient care over the past couple of years. I know they will continue to do all they can to provide great healthcare for the many patients who need their knowledge, skill and compassion every day.”
Nikki Cole, the Trust Chair, said, “It has been a great pleasure working with Matthew. He is an experienced chief executive who has demonstrated commitment and dedication to the NHS. Under his leadership, the CQC reported widespread significant improvements in the Trust following their last inspection in 2016, resulting in the Trust coming out of quality special measures. Our research programme has gone from strength to strength, and above all our staff have appreciated Matthew’s approachable style of leadership as he regularly ‘walked the floor’ to understand the needs of patients and staff.
“I wish him great success in his new role. Meanwhile I can confirm that the Trust board, the Governors and all our staff are determined to ensure that we do whatever is necessary to improve our emergency care performance.”
As of next week, Liz Shutler, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategic Development, will take over as acting chief executive until a formal appointment is made.
Ends.
