• Kathy McLean to oversee governance quality at major London trust
  • Trust hopes Dr McLean will help it reach aim to be outstanding

The former medical director of NHS Improvement has joined Barts Health Trust as a non-executive director, it has been announced.

Kathy McLean will chair the quality assurance committee of the trust board from December and oversee the quality governance arrangement of all five hospitals in the Barts Health group.

Dr McLean was medical director for NHS Improvement, as well as its predecessor NHS Trust Development Authority, before stepping down as the organisation combined management with NHS England. She previously worked in senior clinical roles for NHS England and the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.

Earlier this year she was also appointed as chair of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton Foundation Trust, where she was medical director between 1994 and 2009.

“Barts Health has made impressive strides in its quality agenda in recent years, and I’m looking forward to taking this further to deliver the very best care for our patients,” Dr McLean said.

Ian Peters, chair of Barts Health, said: “Dr McLean brings unparalleled insight and experience of best practice across the NHS.

“She will help us build on our recent strong momentum towards our aim to be outstanding,” Mr Peters added.