Chief Executive’s Message – Friday 18 March

March 18, 2022

This week we hosted an Artificial Intelligence Showcase in partnership with IBM as one of the NHS leaders in this field; Congratulations to Daren Fradgley who has been confirmed as our new Chief Integration Officer; Janice Cartwright has successfully completed the Professional Nurse Advocate training programme; and, we have launched our public engagement programme to seek views on proposals for day case surgery when MMUH opens

I’m pleased to begin this week’s update with some messages of congratulations. Well done to nurse Janice Cartwright who has successfully completed the Professional Nurse Advocate (PNA) training programme. PNA training provides participants with the skills to facilitate restorative supervision to their colleagues and teams, in nursing and beyond, equipping them to listen and understand challenges and demands of fellow colleagues, and to lead, support and deliver quality improvement initiatives in response.

I also want to congratulate Daren Fradgley for being successful in an external appointment process and will be confirmed into the substantive position of the Chief Integration Officer for the Trust from the start of April 2022. Daren joined us on an interim basis in October 2021, from Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, where he was Deputy CEO and latterly acting chief executive, so he brings strong Board level experience to the team. Daren will continue to lead on the development of the place-based partnership in Sandwell, which is the vehicle for driving forwards much of our Population strategic objective, providing seamless care for our patients and populations.  As part of this role, he will also be the executive lead for primary care and community services delivery in the Trust. The post is funded by all the statutory agencies in Sandwell, which is a vote of confidence in our ability to act as a host for the partnership, long term.

Nothing ever stays the same for long in NHS leadership, so it is right that I share some news about Dr David Carruthers, who has confirmed to me his intention to step down as Medical Director at the end of August as it has always been his plan to retire this year. David has been our Medical Director for the past four years and is a leader that I know many of us look up to, for his integrity, his work ethic, his commitment to patients and his support for all those working in the Trust, particularly our medical colleagues. The process of appointment for David’s successor will be underway shortly and there will be ample opportunity for us all to convey our thanks and appreciation to David in coming months before his departure.

Many of you will be affected personally by the situation in Ukraine and the refugee crisis in neighbouring countries, and I know lots of you are doing all you can to help this heartbreaking situation. Thank you for that. Closer to home, I know that many colleagues will be already impacted by the rise in the cost of living that has the potential to become more severe as a result of increasing energy costs, fuel costs and the war in Ukraine. NHS England and NHS Employers are reviewing what support can and should be provided for NHS staff who are struggling and we will review their guidance as it develops.  We are also discussing a consistent approach to recognition of these spiralling costs, across our Black Country system.  I should be able to share something with you on this shortly.  I wanted you all to be aware that the Trust can and does offer support to people who are in particular financial distress. Support can be requested through your line manager who can talk to our HR colleagues about any assistance that the Trust can offer. If you think there is more that we could do across the Trust to help colleagues in these difficult times please let executive colleagues know.