New CEO joins hospital group

Laura Churchward has started as CEO of University Hospitals of Northamptonshire this week, which comprises Northampton and Kettering General Hospitals. UHN is also part of a wider group with University Hospitals of Leicester Trust. 

This comes after significant senior turnover at both Kettering and Northampton in recent years. Leicester has had big finance and performance problems – particularly on elective care – although it is now showing improvement; while the two smaller hospitals have also seen performance concerns.

The trust said that Ms Churchward will “work closely” with Richard Mitchell, who is chief executive of the wider hospital group, including UHL. 

Before joining UHN, Ms Churchward was director of strategy at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust. She had held several senior operational roles at UCLH, including the management of standalone sites, across a 20-year NHS career. 

Kettering and Northampton first formed a “group model” under joint leadership in 2020 but legally remain two separate trusts. Their first joint CEO, Simon Weldon, left after a long-term absence. The trusts then had two new interim CEOs take over in quick succession, before Mr Mitchell was named group chief last year.

The three trusts have also shared a chair since last July, most recently Andrew Moore.

Heidi Smoult, who has been on long-term absence from her role as CEO of NGH since last autumn, is no longer employed by the trust as of last month, HSJ understands. 

Mr Mitchell said he was “confident we have made an excellent appointment”, adding he is “very much looking forward to working with Laura to build a brighter future for patients, colleagues and communities”.