Hospital and community NHS trusts get joint chair

The trust that runs the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital will have a joint chairman with the community health trust

Two NHS trusts – one running hospitals and the other providing community health services – have appointed a joint chairman who will look at how the two organisations work together.

Andrew Morgan, who previously ran NHS trusts in Lincolnshire, takes up his role as the new head of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS and Shropshire Community Health NHS on Tuesday.

His appointment is initially for three years and both trusts will remain separate bodies.

The hospital trust was at the centre of a maternity scandal two years ago and has seen a row over the location of A&E services.

Meanwhile, Telford residents recently spoke out over the difficulties they faced in getting GP appointments and an integrated care board saw several senior staff members leave.

Andrew Morgan will be looking at how the trusts deliver modern responsive services

Mr Morgan said: “I am eager for the two organisations, working together, to provide excellent integrated care to patients, both in our hospitals and in our communities.

"I believe this can be achieved by looking at how the trusts deliver modern responsive services that are safe, high quality and effective."

Following Mr Morgan's appointment, Patricia Davies, Shropshire Community Health chief executive, said: “We have a long history of working collaboratively across the health and care system and I am delighted to be further supporting this approach.”

At the hospital trust, chief executive Jo Williams said: “This is an exciting step forward.”

The hospital trust provides services to nearly half a million people in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid-Wales, from its bases in Telford and Shrewsbury.

Community health teams provide community-health services, including district nursing, health visiting, physiotherapy and specialist clinics, to adults and children in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and surrounding areas including The Black Country and borders.