Long-serving NHS boss honoured with award

Professor David Loughton CBE, who is retiring next month, was presented with the award by IHSCM chief executive Jon Wilks

The chief executive of two hospital trusts who has spent more than 40 years working at senior level in the NHS has been honoured with an award.

Professor David Loughton CBE is among the longest-serving chief executives in the NHS after being with Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) for nearly two decades and, in the last three years, also being boss at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust.

On Tuesday, it was announced he had been made a companion of the Institute of the Health and Social Care Management (IHSCM) before his retirement next month.

The organisation said Prof Loughton was a healthcare “standard bearer” who was being honoured for his “outstanding contribution”.

The IHSCM is an independent membership organisation in the UK and worldwide for managers and leaders commissioning and supporting health and social care.

Its chief executive Jon Wilks said: "David is being recognised for the considerable support he has provided to us, and for his outstanding contribution he has made to the Institute’s objectives.

“Irrespective of rank, these are only awarded to those who have gone above and beyond in his contribution over 40 years of membership."

He added: “When we launched regional hubs, David was pretty much the first to say ‘we are in’ for both Wolverhampton and Walsall trusts.

“That was a big moment for us because it enabled us to go to other trusts knowing we carried more authority, and we cannot be more grateful.”

Prof Loughton said he was not expecting an award but was proud to have been made a companion.

Announcing last year that he was to retire, the RWT said he dedicated much of his career to transforming health services in Wolverhampton and Walsall as well as making vital contributions at both regional and national level.

An interim chief executive to run the two trusts was confirmed last month.