Gillian Norton has been appointed as the new Chair of St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

A Non-Executive Director at St George’s since June 2016, Gillian was previously Chief Executive of Richmond Council – a role she held from 1999 to 2016 – and also Chief Executive of Wokingham Borough Council. She was also lead Chief Executive for health issues on the South London Partnership, an organisation of local authorities in south west London.

In all, the Trust received a record 20 applications for the role of Chair, which was shortlisted to four candidates who were assessed on Wednesday this week by a range of stakeholders, including staff. The candidates were also interviewed by a panel of Governors and an independent representative, Richard Murley, the Chair of University College London Hospitals. The Council of Governors approved the appointment yesterday (Thursday 16 February).

Gillian said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Chair of St George’s. Whilst there is much to be done to bring the Trust to the level of excellence and financial sustainability we want for our patients, and the communities we serve, this is an institution with enormous potential. I look forward to working with staff, Governors and all our partners to realise that potential, building on our recent improvements.”

Sir David Henshaw, outgoing interim Chair, said: “I am delighted that Gillian is taking on this key leadership position. She brings a wealth of experience from her career in local authorities, as well as at the Trust itself. Gillian is a first class appointment to this role, which she has deservedly secured following an external selection process led by our Council of Governors. I am confident that she will use her expertise and commitment to great effect as Chair, and I wish her every success in her new role.”

 

 

 

Notes to editors

St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest healthcare providers in the UK. Its main site, St George’s Hospital – one of the country’s principal teaching hospitals – is shared with St George’s, University of London, which trains medical students and carries out advanced medical research. As well as acute hospital services, the trust provides a wide variety of specialist and community hospital based care and a full range of community services to children, adults, older people and people with learning disabilities. These services are provided from Queen Mary’s Hospital, Roehampton, 11 health centres and clinics, schools and nurseries, patients’ homes and Wandsworth Prison.

For more information about St George’s, please call 020 8725 5151 or email communications@stgeorges.nhs.uk