Welcoming our new Chief Executive, Mat Shaw
Today we welcome Mat Shaw as our new group Chief Executive for St George’s, Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.
Mat started his first day where it matters most – alongside colleagues delivering frontline care.
His first visit was to St Helier Hospital’s emergency department, where he spent the morning meeting teams, hearing about their experiences, and learning more about what matters most to them and the patients they care for.
Mat also visited St Helier’s maternity department and the paediatric department at Queen’s Mary’s Hospital for Children.
This hands-on start reflects Mat’s commitment to listening and understanding the reality of working across our services. Over the coming weeks, he will continue to spend time across all our sites, from wards and community services to behind-the-scenes teams, building a clear picture of what we do well and where we can go further.
Mat brings a strong passion for delivering high-quality care for all, with a particular focus on reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for patients. He is also a strong advocate for the thoughtful use of technology, including AI, to enhance both patient care and the working lives of colleagues.
Speaking about his first day and priorities, Mat said: “I want to listen and learn. I’ll be spending time across all our sites – from the plant room to our wards, community services and everything in between – to understand what’s working well and what isn’t.
“I’ve seen how technology such as AI can improve outcomes for patients and make people’s working lives easier. I’m eager to support colleagues to build on the outstanding care they already deliver every day, as we set out together on a clear course towards excellence.”
Mat returns to gesh with a wealth of experience across the NHS.
Trained at St George’s Hospital Medical School, he has previously worked within our organisations and understands the communities we serve.
Most recently, he was Chief Executive at Great Ormond Street Hospital, one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, where he led the organisation for eight years.
An orthopaedic surgeon by background, Mat has spent over two decades in clinical and leadership roles across the NHS, including as Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Sir Mark Lowcock, Chair of gesh, said: “Mat has an outstanding track record as a leader in the NHS, as well as a personal style of warmth and openness.
“His vision, drive, energy and insight make him uniquely placed to lead gesh into the future, and we are delighted to welcome him back to the organisation where he trained and practiced earlier in his career.”
