100 day plan for new Chief Executive at Chesterfield Royal Hospital
This week Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust welcomed its new Chief Executive Angie Smithson.
Angie joins the Trust after five years as Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Operating Officer (COO) based in Liverpool. She has more than 30 years of NHS experience, starting her career in nursing and midwifery in 1986, before moving into a range of leadership positions. Since 2017 she has combined her COO role with the responsibilities of Integration Director, leading a complex and challenging merger to combine Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with the Royal Liverpool & Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust.
Angie said “I’m really looking forward to working with everyone and consider it a real privilege to have this opportunity.”
“When I applied for the post I visited the hospital a couple of times, as a bit of a ‘mystery shopper’, to get a feel for it and to have a look around. Over the last two or three months I’ve had the chance to visit again, to meet some of my new colleagues and to find out more about the Trust and its services. On every occasion I’ve been warmly welcomed by incredibly friendly people and I’m grateful to everyone I’ve met so far for making me feel ‘at home’.
“I’m keen to meet many more people as soon as I can, to find out what it’s like for them to work for the Trust – whether their role is in our hospital, out at one of our community bases, at Royal Primary Care; they’re part of our DSFS subsidiary, or our army of volunteers.”
To support this approach Angie has embarked on a one hundred day plan, which already includes more than 60 opportunities to meet staff – at events, ward and department visits and conversation sessions. Every member of #TeamCRH has an opportunity to get involved and have their say – as a way of getting to know more about their new Chief Executive and so that she can find out more about the organisation.
“From my visits so far it’s clear that staff and local people are all incredibly proud of the Trust’s services, its values and principles and achievements and accomplishments, says Angie.
“It is also somewhere that is striving for continued improvement and encourages staff to lead changes that make a positive difference, use their creativity and bring their ideas to life. I am equally passionate about all of these elements to give patients exceptional care and a first-class experience.”
On behalf of the Board of Directors the Trust’s Chair, Dr Helen Phillips welcomed Angie to her new role:
“We are really pleased Angie has joined us. It’s a great time for the Trust. Along with the challenges shared by the NHS, there are some exciting opportunities ahead, with the NHS Long-Term Plan at the heart of it all.
“I am certain that Angie will lead and direct the Trust in our continued ambition to achieve ‘outstanding’ both for the care we give to all our patients and for the workplace we provide to all our staff. I would like to welcome Angie into the Chesterfield Royal ‘family’ and all of us on the Board are delighted to have the opportunity to work with her to take the Trust on to its next successful step.”
