Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) has made two recent appointments, welcoming a non-executive director and announcing a new freedom to speak up guardian.
Dr Stephen Duckworth OBE is the new Non-Executive Director for the trust, and has also taken on a position as the Non-Executive Lead for the Hampshire Together: Modernising our Hospitals and Health Services programme.
Stephen has extensive board level and senior executive experience after working across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including roles for the NHS.
He is also the Founder and Chief Executive of Disability Matters Limited, a research and consultancy business with a focus on accessibility and mobility, and is Non-Executive Director for the Palace of Westminster Restoration and Renewal Delivery Authority, as well as for Network Rail.
Steve Erskine, Chairman at Hampshire Hospitals, said: “Stephen was a simply outstanding candidate, and we are delighted to welcome him to HHFT. I am confident that the wealth of experience and knowledge that Stephen brings will make a huge contribution to the trust, and in particular the Hampshire Together programme.”
Speaking of his appointment, Stephen Duckworth added: “It is an honour and a privilege to join Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust at a time of exceptional challenge but with huge opportunities ahead.
“Everyone I have met so far has been an exceptional, with a massive commitment to create a more efficient, effective and patient centred service for our community over the next decade, as we continue to adapt to the challenges and implement lessons learned from the Coronavirus pandemic.”
Elsewhere at Hampshire Hospitals, Barrie Jones, Deputy Operations Officer at the trust, has been selected as the new Freedom To Speak Up (FTSU) Lead Guardian.
FTSU Guardians work to ensure that staff can speak up about their concerns, and Barrie’s appointment means there is now a 16-strong team supporting the healthcare professionals across HHFT.
Julie Dawes, Chief Nurse and Executive Lead for Freedom To Speak Up Guardians at HHFT, said: “We now have a much larger team of Guardians to support the growing number of staff here at HHFT, and I am delighted to welcome Barrie as our Lead Guardian.”
Barrie also commented: “I have been a part of Team HHFT for eight years and am really looking forward to taking on this important role within the trust, where our staff know they are supported every step of the way if they raise a concern.
“We have a brilliant team made up of friendly and approachable staff from across our hospitals, and I am looking forward to working with them and making a difference.”
