Hospital trust appoints new chief executive

Prof Lesley Dwyer has spent the last five years as the CEO of a health authority in Australia

Norfolk's largest hospital trust has appointed its new chief executive.

Professor Lesley Dwyer will join the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) early next year.

She is currently the CEO of the largest health authority in South Australia and said she was "excited" for the new challenge.

Prof Dwyer replaces the hospital's interim CEO, Nick Hulme, who joined the trust in the summer.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is currently rated as "requires improvement" by the Care Quality Commission

Prof Dwyer said: "After years away from the NHS, during which health systems globally have been challenged like never before, I am delighted to be joining NNUH.

"While I do not underestimate the challenge… I believe that the experience that I bring from both Australia, and of course the UK, will provide the required leadership, direction and support to deliver on what we say we will do and what we need to do."

For the past five years, Prof Dwyer has been the CEO of Central Adelaide Local Health Network in Australia which employs more than 18,000 people.

Before that, she was the chief executive of Medway NHS Foundation Trust in Kent where she helped to lift the organisation out of "special measures".

The NNUH is currently rated as "requires improvement" by the Care Quality Commission.

Tom Spink, NNUH chair, said: "Prof Dwyer is a very experienced leader with an exceptional record in the NHS and Australian healthcare system for putting patients and the community at the centre of all decisions.

"She has an enviable track record of transforming organisations with a particular focus on culture change and enhanced performance."

The trust said that its interim CEO Nick Hulme, who is also the boss of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) which runs Colchester and Ipswich hospitals, will remain in post until Prof Dwyer begins her new role next year.