CEO to take over leadership of neighbouring trust

Simon Weldon has been appointed “group chief executive” ahead of several other planned shared executive appointments at the two Midlands trusts. The trusts already share a chairman, Alan Burns, who previously chaired Kettering.

Mr Burns told HSJ that Sonia Swart, the Northampton chief executive, did not apply for the group CEO position and had taken a personal decision to leave the trust. The changes will happen when the current pressures from coronavirus have subsided, he added.

The trusts have repeatedly asserted they are not planning a formal merger. According to a press statement, they will continue to provide core services, like emergency services and maternity, but will “collaborate more closely on other clinical and support services with the aim of providing the best care possible for patients”.

However, there are no plans for changes to trust leadership “until after the coronavirus emergency is over”.

Mr Burns, who was appointed group chair last year, said: “Working together has never been more important and that has been highlighted to us all by the current coronavirus crisis.

“It is also the thinking behind the group management model — which will develop arrangements for equitable and comprehensive care for the people we serve — making the best use of the talents of our fantastic teams at both hospital sites.”

The trusts also plan to appoint a group chief finance officer, group director of strategy, and group chief people officer.

Each hospital will continue to have a trust board with at least a managing director with a number of executive posts, with a management board across both hospitals overseeing the group services work.