• United Lincs CEO Andrew Morgan to step down next year
  • Trust promoted from special measures last year after “widespread improvements”
  • Mr Morgan has spent more than 40 years in NHS and says he may take on NED roles or short-term executive roles 

A trust CEO who recently steered his organisation out of special measures is stepping down from full-time work next year after a 42-year stint in the NHS.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust boss Andrew Morgan, who joined the provider in 2019 and led it out of enhanced regulatory oversight in 2022, announced his plans to staff by an email last week which has been shared by the trust.

Before moving to ULHT, Mr Morgan led the county’s community trust for five years, which he took to an “outstanding” rating in 2018. Prior to this, he was interim CEO at East of England Ambulance Service. He also led a string of primary care trusts.

In a message to staff, the trust leader said he would be “stepping away” from full-time executive roles after 42 years in the NHS. But he said he may take on non-executive director roles or interim CEO jobs. He said he was giving “plenty of notice [to] ensure a smooth transition and handover”.

He said in the email: “I am so proud of my time in the NHS, especially the outstanding CQC rating that we achieved during my time at Lincolnshire Community Health Services, and the huge achievement of ULHT exiting special measures for both quality and finance last year.

“I have always loved the NHS and still think it is the best part of our society. I am so proud that, every day, ULHT has a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people across our county.

“Please be assured that I have no intention of easing off in my last year – there is still much to do and I intend doing it. I will continue to get out and about across our hospitals as usual, and look forward to working with you all over the next 11 months.”

ULHT, which had faced long-term challenges and had been in enhanced regulatory oversight on and off since 2013, was moved out of special measures following a February 2022 CQC report that found “widespread improvements”.

The watchdog’s chief inspector said a “new approach to leadership had changed the culture of the organisation”.

Speaking to HSJ last year, Mr Morgan called for more support for leaders who took on difficult jobs, saying there had been times in his career, before his stint at ULHT, where he said there was “great support from regulators”, but then other times when “you suddenly became the problem [in the eyes of regulators]”.

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