• Sir Andrew Cash to retire from Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in July
  • Has worked in the NHS for 40 years
  • Worked in several national roles
  • Will continue leading integrated care system in part time capacity

One of the longest serving chief executives in the NHS has announced he will retire this year. 

Sir Andrew Cash will step down as chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation trust in July, having led the organisation for 16 years.

He will continue to have a “significant role” in the region’s NHS, working part time as chief executive system leader for the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw integrated care system, called Health and Care Working Together Partnership.

Sir Andrew led one of the biggest trust mergers in 2001, bringing together five acute hospitals in Sheffield to create Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust. It took on community health services in 2011.

It is one of the largest trusts and a member of the Shelford Group of the largest academic trusts, which Sir Andrew has chaired.

Under Sir Andrew’s leadership it has been recognised as a high performer, and was in 2016 rated ‘good’ in every domain by the Care Quality Commission.

He has held several national roles, including working on the Patients Charter, year 2000 contingency planning, and as director general for provider development at the Department of Health and Social Care, overseeing the foundation trust pipeline.

Sir Andrew was knighted in 2009. In December, he was highly commended as chief executive of the year at the HSJ awards, and he has been a mainstay of HSJ’s annual top chief executive list.

Sir Andrew said: “Deciding to retire was tough because of the loyalty I feel to the amazing people who work and volunteer in the trust’s hospitals and community services.

“Every day I see the unstinting commitment shown by each and every member of the trust to deliver the best possible service to our patients.”

He said his 16 years at the trust had been a “privilege” and said the announcement of his retirement would enable a successor to be found before the end of his tenure in July.

He said he was “looking forward to having more time to pursue different interests both personally and professionally over the next few years”.

Tony Pedder, trust chairman, said Sir Andrew had always “led the trust strongly” and been “guided by what is right for patients”.

He said: “After 40 years dedicated services to the NHS, I fully understand and respect his decision. He will leave behind a resilient organisation.”

NHS England chief executive Simon Stevens said: “Andrew has made an enormous contribution to the NHS over many years of public service, both regionally and nationally.

“As he passes on the leadership baton in Sheffield it is heartening that one of our most experienced and successful hospital chief executives is now stepping up to lead the next chapter of the NHS evolution through the creation of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System.”

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