Royal Surrey County Hospital Welcomes New Chief Executive

Published on: 2 Sep, 2016
Updated on: 5 Sep, 2016

Paula Head, the new chief exec at the Royal Surrey

The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Trust has welcomed its new chief executive, Paula Head, who joined the trust yesterday (September 1).

Ms Head takes over from Peter Dunt who took on the position on an interim basis following the departure of former chief executive, Nick Moberly.

Mr Dunt said as he handed over: “I joined the trust in December 2010 as chairman of the board I have come to admire greatly the very high degree of professionalism, the camaraderie and the commitment of all those I have come into contact with at Royal Surrey.

“The last few years have been particularly challenging for the NHS but I believe that we have the best health system in the world, with the best people working in it.

“It is therefore with great confidence that I hand over leadership of this fantastic trust to a proven leader in Paula and I wish her and all of you well.”

John Denning, chairman said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Peter for all his hard work and tireless commitment to helping the Royal Surrey to be the best that it can be. We will certainly miss you Peter and wish you all the best for the future.”

Paula Head added: “I have had the opportunity to meet with both Peter and John before I started and I am really excited about taking over the reins for the Royal Surrey.

“My key priorities over the next few months will be to get to know and work with the staff to maintain the commitment to our patients for safe and effective care, while at the same time continuing with the good work that is already underway as part of the trust’s turnaround programme.

“I will also be working with the team at Royal Surrey to not just turnaround the organisation, but to transform the way we work so that we can ensure a stable financial base and achieve operational excellence.”

Ms Head, a pharmacist, was formerly the chief executive at the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and a director at Frimley Park Hospital, took part in a competitive recruitment process. She is expected to be paid a salary of between £180,000 to £185,000, in line with NHS pay scales for her appointment.

Responses to Royal Surrey County Hospital Welcomes New Chief Executive

Mike Murphy Reply

September 3, 2016 at 1:02 pm

At least we have got past the costly and ill conceived merger proposal with St Peter’s and Ashford. I believe it cost the trust £5 million pounds, or more.

The new chief executive has not got much to do to be an improvement.
Colin Checkley Reply

September 3, 2016 at 4:29 pm

Well I wish the new chief executive all the best, and hope she can turn around the hospital deficit. But without wishing any disrespect, being someone who has worked at the said hospital for 20 years I very much doubt that she will make a difference. Many have tried and failed.

I also think that she is being paid an obscene amount of money, whilst the hospital is in debt.
JP Moyer Reply

September 4, 2016 at 5:54 pm

The merger with Ashford St Peter’s Foundation Trust has been paused but not abandoned completely. It will be something the boards of both trusts will need to return to when the financial position at RSCH is clearer.

It would, of course, have saved the CEO salary and that of several board members as only one would have been required. Both trusts are also actively engaged in responding to the NHS requirement for Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) to be prepared for 44 areas across England.

For this area the STP is known as Surrey Heartlands and covers the Guildford/Waverley, NW Surrey and Surrey Downs Clinical Commissioning areas (including some of the current catchment of Epsom).