Chief Executive Officer named for new NHS Trust set to deliver local community, mental health and learning disability services
Major progress is being made to create a new NHS Trust to deliver more joined up and consistent community, mental health and learning disability care across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, from April 2024.
The new organisation will encompass all the services of Southern Health and Solent Trusts, the community, mental health and learning disability services of Isle of Wight Trust, and the community child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Hampshire, which are currently provided by Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
This week, following a comprehensive assessment process, Ron Shields was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer for the new organisation. Ron has considerable leadership experience spanning over 23 years in successful NHS Chief Executive Officer roles in community, mental health and acute hospital organisations. He has an excellent track record in leading sustainable transformation and integration of services to improve patient outcomes. Ron, currently Chief Executive of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, will take up the role when the new Trust is formed next year.
Ron Shields said:
“I am really excited with this opportunity to lead a new integrated healthcare organisation for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. The strengths of the services in all four organisations is a fabulous foundation from which to build, in partnership, the very best approaches to health and care in all of the communities we serve.”
Ron will join Lynne Hunt, who was recently appointed as Chair for the new Trust, and Non-Executive Directors drawn from the current NHS organisations involved, on the Board of the new organisation.
Lynne Hunt, Chair of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, said:
“We have a unique opportunity to bring together our wonderful staff, patients, carers and local communities to create something that is greater than the sum of our separate parts. I can’t wait to work alongside Ron and our wider teams in the new organisation, to enable real health improvements and life opportunities for people in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”
Mike Watts, Chair of Solent NHS Trust said:
"We welcome the appointment of Ron as the Chief Executive of the new Trust, and look forward to working with him, and colleagues from across Hampshire and Isle of Wight, as we continue to bring together community, mental health and learning disability services for the benefit of people in our communities and staff.
"The creation of a new Trust realises our core belief that everyone deserves easy access to high-quality health and care services which support their health and independence, no matter who they are or where they live."
Melloney Poole, Chair at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said:
“I congratulate Ron on his appointment and look forward to seeing what he and our many partners are able to achieve together for the benefit of the communities we serve across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
“I would also like to thank my colleagues on the island, and across the Solent, for their energy and enthusiasm in delivering this work as it ensures that services continue to improve and are made sustainable.”
The appointment was made with valuable contribution from local partners and the process was chaired by Maggie MacIsaac, Chief Executive Officer of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, who said:
“The appointment of a Chief Executive Officer is an important milestone in our system’s journey to create a new, single community and mental health provider for Hampshire and Isle of Wight. Ron Shields’ vast experience in leading transformational change will help us to tackle the current fragmentation of services and to improve the health of our communities. We are all looking forward to continuing to work with Ron as we progress with the formation of the new trust.
Together, across our health and care system, we will continue to join up and transform the services our communities use. By doing so we can tackle inequalities, reduce unwarranted and confusing variation, and enable local people to live healthier, longer lives.”
Community, mental health and learning disability services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight are currently provided by four different NHS organisations. An independent review in 2022 found that by bringing services together under a single NHS Trust, people could have fairer access, a better experience and improved outcomes. A single, larger Trust will help ensure the sustainability of local services and create more career opportunities for the NHS workforce.
In recent months the organisations involved have been working with patients, carers, staff, local communities and partners to develop plans for the new Trust. This includes finding out what people would want to see in the new organisation, what works well now, and what needs to be better. Local people have also shared ideas for what the new Trust could be called. It is hoped that a single organisation will lead to a greater voice and greater involvement of people who use these services, their carers and local communities.
In the coming weeks, appointments will be made to the remaining positions on the new Trust’s Board. Detailed plans are also being drawn up, setting out the steps needed to bring the organisations together ready for April 2024 and beyond. These plans will go before the Boards of the four current NHS Trusts and NHS England, in the autumn.