Ex-hospital chief takes over new trust

Toby Lewis will join Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber Foundation Trust next March, the trust announced today.

Mr Lewis headed Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals Trust from 2013 until 2021, when he departed to become a senior fellow at The King’s Fund. Before he stood down, Mr Lewis had been on extended sick leave. 

Before this, he had held a string of senior NHS roles across London and Yorkshire and did a stint in the Downing Street Delivery Unit, according to his Linkedin profile.

His time at Sandwell and West Birmingham was marked by the collapse of the contractor behind Midland Metropolitan Hospital – now set to open in spring 2024, six years later than originally planned. 

Mr Lewis replaces RDaSH chief executive Kathryn Singh, who is retiring at Christmas after a 35-year career in the NHS. The trust’s deputy CEO, Sheila Lloyd, will step up as interim during the winter period.

Mr Lewis said: “I am delighted to be returning to Yorkshire to lead an organisation that has a trusted place within local communities, and an important role in the wider health system across South Yorkshire.”

RDaSH chair Kathryn Lavery said: “I am delighted that after a national recruitment campaign we have appointed an experienced chief executive with a commitment to compassionate leadership and community involvement. I know Toby will be a great addition to our leadership teams and build on work done over recent years.

“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Kathryn Singh for her dedication, support, commitment and hard work and especially for the compassionate and devoted way she led the organisation through the tough years of covid-19.”