New finance chief for special measures trust

Andrew Grimshaw has been appointed chief financial officer at St George’s University Hospitals Foundation Trust. He is director of finance at London Ambulance Service Trust.

St George’s was one of three trusts put in financial special measures in March, having been put into quality special measures last October.

Two weeks before the trust was put in financial special measures, previous chief financial officer Margaret Pratt resigned after just four months in the job.

Ann Johnson, the acting chief financial officer appointed last week, will stay in the role until Mr Grimshaw joins the trust on 19 June.

St George’s is forecast to end 2016-17 with a £71m deficit, against a planned deficit of £35m.

Mr Grimshaw has been director of finance at London Ambulance since January 2013, and acting chief executive since January after Fionna More retired.

Prior to joining the ambulance trust, Mr Grimshaw worked at a number of teaching, specialist and district general hospitals. He joined the NHS as a trainee accountant in 1989.

London Ambulance has an expected deficit of £6.6m for 2016-17.

Gillian Norton, chair of St George’s, said: “Andrew will be a key member of the new executive team Jacqueline Totterdell and I are starting to build here at the trust. He is highly experienced, with an impressive track record, and brings fresh ideas to the dual challenge we face of improving services for patients, whilst also making the organisation financially sustainable.”

Mr Grimshaw said: “I am excited to be joining St George’s, and look forward to meeting staff, and being a part of the new executive team at the trust. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at London Ambulance, and wish the organisation all the best for the future.”

Ms Totterdell joins St George’s as chief executive on 1 May.