Musgrove Park Hospital and Somerset Partnership have announced that Peter Lewis has been appointed as next joint chief executive for the two NHS organisations.
It follows a competitive recruitment process that included a wide section of staff, clinicians, directors and governors of both NHS Trusts.
Mr Lewis has a wealth of experience of the NHS in Somerset. Since 2005 he has held a variety of key positions at the Musgrove Park, including director of finance, chief operating officer, deputy chief executive and – more recently – chief executive.
The two organisations have formed an alliance aimed at improving care for patients by making services more joined up. This means hospital, community, mental health and learning disability services in a big
part of Somerset will be brought together, and staff across all these services will increasingly work as one team, offering much more seamless care.
Stephen Ladyman, chair of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted to announce Peter’s appointment. I believe he is uniquely well placed to lead both organisations and fulfil our ambition for better patient care that is much more responsive to people’s needs.”
“Our alliance is founded on the aim of working across the health and care system in a very collaborative way. Peter has excellent links across Somerset, including with GPs. We know people need services from different parts of the NHS, but they don’t want to have to tell their story numerous times, or feel they are in danger of falling into any gaps between services.”
“This alliance gives our staff every opportunity to get on and make the improvements for patients that they believe are needed.”
Colin Drummond, chair of Musgrove Park Hospital, said: “Peter embodies the values of both our Trusts – putting the patient first in all that we do. I am delighted that he will be leading this collaborative work.”
Peter Lewis replaces the outgoing chief executive of the organisations’ alliance, Dr Nick Broughton, who has been appointed chief executive of Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust.
“I am very much looking forward to leading the integration of NHS services,” said Mr Lewis. “I passionately believe that we can only give our patients the best possible care and experience if all our services – from acute hospital and community services, to mental health – work closely together.
“In this way we can offer a much more holistic approach, centred around the individual’s
needs rather than the needs of the organisations.”
Under the alliance, Musgrove Park and Somerset Partnership have already started:
- Joining up the work of their therapies teams, so that people can get the support and rehabilitation they need whether they’re in hospital or at home.
- Working together, with social care, on getting people home from hospital promptly when they no longer need medical care.
- Bringing in more psychiatric support to Musgrove, so that people with mental health problems can get the right care.
- Developing more integrated stroke care, so that patients have seamless care from hospital to the community.
Please Wait...