Long-serving CEO of ‘outstanding’ trust announces retirement

Robert Woolley, CEO of University Hospitals Bristol and Weston Foundation Trust, will step down at the end of March 2022, following 11 years at the helm of the organisation.

Mr Woolley became CEO of the organisation in 2010, when it was known as University Hospitals Bristol FT. He led the trust from a CQC rating of “requires improvement”, to being rated “outstanding” in both 2017 and 2019.

During his tenure the trust redeveloped Bristol Royal Infirmary and Bristol Children’s Hospital. Prior to and during the pandemic, Mr Woolley oversaw the merger between UHBFT and Weston Area Health Trust, resulting in the merged University Hospitals of Bristol and Weston FT organisation.

It was a major shift for the health service in the region, but the new trust has continued to struggle with the problems at the small Weston Hospital. Weston became the first NHS trust to close to new patients after an outbreak of covid-19 on its wards, and a subsequent review estimated 25 people may have died from catching covid-19 in the hospital.

Mr Woolley has been named in HSJ’s top chief executives list in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

He delayed his plan for retirement to lead the trust through the pandemic, and he said the start of a new financial year would be the “right time” to hand over to his successor.

Mr Woolley said: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve such fantastic, committed and caring people, and I am inordinately proud of all your achievements.”

Jayne Mee, UHBW’s interim chair, said Mr Woolley had shown “tireless dedication to engaging staf and supporting them to deliver the best possible care to patients”.

The trust said it would start recruiting for a replacement shortly.