Trust Chief Executive to retire this summer | Trust news

 

 

Croydon Health Services NHS Trust has today (19 April 2018) announced that John Goulston will retire as its Chief Executive at the end of the summer.

John, who turns 60 this year, plans to retire on 30 September 2018, after 32 years in the NHS.

During his career, John has worked for the capital’s former NHS Strategic Health Authority and as a Chief Executive or Executive Director in NHS trusts in London¹.  He took on the role of Chief Executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust in May 2012 and has led a transformation of the Trust’s services during a period of unprecedented challenges for the NHS. This includes overseeing continued quality improvements and steering the Trust out of financial special measures.

John was instrumental in adopting “Listening into Action” at the Trust – a way of working that empowers frontline staff to make the changes they want to improve care standards.

John Goulston, Chief Executive of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, said:

“I feel proud to have worked at Croydon Health Services. We have excellent and dedicated teams that care for people in our community, at Purley War Memorial Hospital and at Croydon University Hospital – they are a credit to our borough.

“We have transformed the Trust by listening to what our staff, patients and their families, and the communities that we serve.Most importantly, we have acted on what we heard. This must always continue.

“In the latest NHS staff survey, four out of five of our staff said they were happy with the quality of care we provide – which is above the national average². The latest published data also shows nine out of 10 people we have looked after as inpatients, outpatients, in the community and in our A&E and maternity departments, would recommend us to their friends and family³.

“None of this would have been possible without a clear vision from the Trust’s leadership team and unwavering support for staff on the ground to deliver continued improvements in our care and performance.

“I look forward to hearing about the great things our staff and the Trust will achieve in the future – especially as we strengthen our partnerships with health and care organisations to provide even more seamless services in the borough.”

In March 2018, the Trust signed a new nine year agreement with its One Croydon Alliance partners⁴.  The extended contract aims to deliver better joined-up care and support in Croydon. John has lead this process for the Trust, championing the benefits it can bring for people of all ages in the borough.

Mike Bell, Chairman of Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said:   

“John will be a tough act to follow. He has overseen a transformation in the quality of care and performance of the Trust. John has been clear from the start that people need to be at the heart of service transformation. He knew the key to improvement was through empowering staff at all levels, and giving staff the space to innovate and work with their ideas.

“John’s vision for the Trust and his commitment to releasing the talent of our staff has made a tremendous difference and is now delivering real improvements for people in Croydon. He knew we had to work in partnership to improve the health and care of people in our borough. We want to give people greater control over when, where and how they receive support and treatment, and by working together as the One Croydon Alliance, we will be able to deliver more coordinated care and support.”

Steve Russell, Executive Regional Managing Director (London) for NHS Improvement, said:

“I’d like to thank John for his leadership of Croydon Health Services, and for his many years of  service to the NHS.  John puts patients and staff first at all times, and he has led significant improvements in the quality of care provided to local residents.  He has helped lay some very strong foundations for integrated working across health and care which are already starting to show positive results. On behalf of us all at NHS Improvement, I’d like to pay tribute to all his achievements, and wish him all the best for the future.”

The Board and NHS Improvement will now seek to appoint a new Chief Executive at the Trust.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. Prior to joining Croydon Health Services, John was the Regional Director of Provider Development and the Programme Director of the London Programme for IT at NHS London – the capital’s former strategic health authority. Between March 2008 and January 2011, he was the Chief Executive at Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust. From 2002 to 2007, John was the Acting Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance at Barts and The London NHS Trust. John was also Director of Finance at the Royal Free Hampstead NHS Trust from 1995 to 2002.
    
2. In the 2017 NHS Staff survey (published 6 March 2018), 81% of CHS staff said they are satisfied with the quality of care they give to patients/service users, compared to the 80% national average for similar organisations.
    
3. Taken from Friends and Family data from February 2018.
    
4. The One Croydon Alliance is a partnership between the local NHS, Croydon Council and Age UK Croydon. Focused initially on improving the health and wellbeing of older people in the borough, from April 2018, the Alliance will be extending its remit to consider the health needs of people of all ages in the borough. The One Croydon Alliance partners are: Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group, Croydon Council, the Croydon GP Collaborative, South London and the Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and Age UK Croydon.