05.04.19
South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust appoints new chief executive from its neighbour
A leading London mental health trust has appointed the chief executive of a neighbouring trust as its new leader.
David Bradley is to leave St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) after seven years at the helm, and takes up the chief executive role at South London and Maudsley Mental Health Trust (SLaM).
The two trusts already work closely with one another along with Oxleas NHS FT as part of the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership (SLP), and Bradley said he will “continue to work hard to improve mental health services in south London.”
He will take up his role at SLaM in July 2019, replacing Mathew Patrick, who announced his plans to retire in January.
Bradley has over 30 years’ experience in the NHS, spending seven years as chief executive of SWLSTG, and leading major transformations in mental health in south west London such as two new state-of-the-art £180m mental health hospitals.
Roger Paffard, chair of SLaM, said: “I am delighted that the trust has appointed David after a competitive appointment process. He is an experienced leader in the NHS, a champion of mental health, and a tremendous driver of positive change.
“Under his guidance, SWLSTG has seen improvements to how it cares for patients, leading to a ‘good’ rating from the CQC across all five domains.
“As one of the founding CEOs of the SLP, he will be able to continue to push our work together with Oxleas and SWLSTG continuing to make a real difference to how local people access and experience mental health care.
Paffard also paid tribute to the work of Patrick for his “incredible dedication and commitment,” and added that recruitment is underway for Bradley’s successor at SWLSTG.
Bradley commented: “There has been a tremendous amount of good work taking place under Matthew’s excellent leadership. We will build on this ensuring that we remain at the forefront of mental health innovation.
“I would like to thank patients, carers and staff at SWLSTG for helping to transform services over the last seven years and I know that we will continue to work together through the SLP.”
Ann Beasley, chair of SWLSTG, said Bradley had been a “tremendous force of positive change” at the trust and had been a “beacon of best practice” and an “inspirational leader.”