New Managing Director Acute Services appointed
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Andrea Fernandes as our new Managing Director Acute Services.
Following a competitive and external recruitment process, Andrea, who is currently our Director of Operations for Unplanned Care, has been appointed to the role. Andrea has worked in the NHS for over 10 years and joined the Trust in January 2025. Since joining, she has led a number of impactful initiatives to improve performance across our urgent and emergency care teams.
In her new role, Andrea will continue this improvement work across all acute services, working closely with the wider executive team, staff across the Trust and our partners to oversee the strategic direction, operational management and performance of the Trust’s acute services, ensuring we continue to deliver safe, high‑quality care for our patients.
Andrea will take over from Sheila Roberts, who has been in post on an interim basis since last autumn following Liz Wells’ tragic diagnosis. During her time with us, Sheila has provided strong leadership during a period of significant change, leading to several important improvements and helping the Trust meet its key standards.
Andrea said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the new Managing Director for Acute Services. It is a real privilege to lead our acute planned and unplanned care services, working with colleagues to deliver sustainable improvement in performance and quality and to ensure our acute services are resilient and responsive to the needs of residents in Croydon.
"My focus will be on working collaboratively with clinical, operational and system partners to address ongoing pressures, improve access and patient flow, and strengthen delivery across all our acute services. I am proud of the care we provide and excited about the opportunity to build on this strong foundation, as together we continue to improve outcomes for our patients and our local community."
Matthew Kershaw, Chief Executive Officer and Place Based Leader for Health, said: “I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Andrea Fernandes as our new Managing Director for Acute Services. Andrea brings a strong track record of operational leadership, deep understanding of our Trust and a clear commitment to improving care for our patients and our wider population in the borough. Since joining us, she has played a key role in driving improvements within our urgent and emergency care services, and I am confident she will build on this success across all acute services in her new role.
“I would also like to sincerely thank Sheila Roberts for her outstanding contribution as Interim Managing Director. Sheila has provided strong and impactful leadership during a period of significant change and has helped deliver meaningful improvements for both patients and staff. We are extremely grateful for her dedication and commitment to the Trust.”
Andrea will formally take up the role later this summer, following a handover period.
Please join us in sincerely thanking Sheila for her leadership and commitment, and in congratulating Andrea on her appointment to this key role.