First Group Board meeting takes place for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals
The first Group Board meeting with executive directors and non-executive directors of both St George’s and Epsom and St Helier hospitals, took place this morning (Friday 5 May) at St Helier.
While the Group has been sharing a Chairman, Group CEO and executive directors for some time, this is the first time both Boards have met in public together.
While both hospitals remain two separate Trusts, a Board meeting in common will be more effective and efficient way of working to drive forward our new Group strategy, which will be launched shortly, to benefit the patients of both Trusts.
Group Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Stephen Jones, said: “Our first Group Board meeting is an important step in the development of our hospital group. Together the Group Board will lead on the delivery of our new strategy, oversee performance and develop the culture of both Trusts. Working together as a Group Board will help us share learning and good practice across the Group, drive out unwarranted variation, and give a robust framework for the governance of the Group.”
Ahead of every board meeting, members visit wards and departments to talk to staff and patients and hear their feedback. Today there were visits to pharmacy, renal dialysis, phlebotomy, endoscopy, radiology and maternity at St Helier Hospital.
Chairman Gillian Norton joined Stephen and Non-Executive Director Peter Kane on a visit to the renal dialysis unit at St Helier Hospital. Peter highlighted the positive staff feedback in the unit and the important work the Trust does in caring for patients who need dialysis, and also set out some of the challenges reported by staff which the Trust will take forward. The Chairman told the Group Board meeting that she ‘had a long chat with a patient who spoke really warmly of the staff and the kindness they showed to patients which was really good to hear’.
Group Board meetings will alternate between Epsom and St Helier and St George’s. The next Group Board meeting in public will take place at St George’s Hospital on Friday 7 July, and staff and members of the public are welcome to come along. If you would like to attend please email corporategovernance3@stgeorges.nhs.uk.
You can find out more details about our new Group Board arrangements in the papers for today’s Group Board meeting, which are available here.
