Trusts appoint new joint chair

Alan McCarthy, who has been chair of SASH for the last eight years, will leave in September to take over the same role at Western Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust.

He replaces Mike Viggers, the BSUH and WSHT chair who stood down earlier this year. The trusts have had an interim chair Patrick Boyle since then. They also share a chief executive, Marianne Griffiths.

Mr McCarthy, a former chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council, said: “It is with a very heavy heart that I leave SASH and my thanks go to Michael Wilson (chief executive), the members of the board and everyone at SASH for their support and commitment.

“It has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career and it is with great pride that I can say I was part of the improvement journey at SASH. I am confident that under the excellent leadership of Michael and his team that the improvement journey will continue apace.”

“It has taken a very special opportunity to prise me away from SASH. WSHFT, like SASH, is a high performing trust, just along the coast from where I live. BSUH is a trust on an improvement journey located in my home city. It really is the perfect opportunity for me to continue my contribution to the NHS.”

Dr George Findlay, deputy CEO and chief medical officer for WSHT and BSUH said: “We are very pleased to welcome Alan to the trusts. His appointment is an exciting development for both organisations and we are confident his extensive experience and energy will help us achieve great things in the years to come.”