11.07.19
Sir Ron Kerr set to take over as chair of NHS Providers
NHS Providers has announced that Sir Ron Kerr will take over as the next chair of the organisation on 1 January 2020, when the term of the current chair, Dame Gill Morgan, ends.
Sir Ron Kerr has a long and distinguished career in health service management, including ten years as one of the country’s leading provider chief executives.
His experience spans acute, community and primary care services, as well as mental health and social care, and he has worked in both provider and commissioning organisations.
He served as the chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, one of England’s largest and most successful combined acute and community trusts. He has national level experience of the social care system and is currently independent chair of a sustainability and transformation partnership (STP).
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Responding to the appointment, the chief and deputy chief executives of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson and Saffron Cordery, said in a joint statement: “This is an excellent appointment for the NHS, our provider members and NHS Providers as an organisation.
“Ron has an outstanding track record as a successful provider chief executive and as a champion of providing outstanding care to patients.
“His senior level experience of leading across the complete range of health and care services and chairing one of the 42 new STPs is a perfect match for what our members need as the NHS moves to greater system working. As he showed in his recent review on how to empower frontline NHS leaders, Ron completely understands the challenges current leaders face.
“I look forward to having the opportunity to support them through the work of NHS Providers – helping to give the organisations they represent a public voice, explaining the context in which they operate, and seeking to influence key decision makers on their behalf.
“He will be able to build on the outstanding contribution made over the last six years by our outgoing chair Dame Gill Morgan who has provided wise counsel and great support as we have grown to meet our members’ needs. She commands enormous respect and admiration across the health and care system and whilst we wish her well, we will miss her.”
Sir Ron Kerr said: “The NHS plays a vital role in all our lives, and those who lead these services do a fantastic job in a rapidly changing world, where increasing demand, new technology and rising public expectations present ever greater challenges.
“Looking ahead, it is clear that the NHS will need to continue to adapt and evolve, particularly as we embrace the move towards greater system working.”
Outgoing chair Dame Gill Morgan also praised the NHS Providers team she'd worked with during her six years in the role, before wishing Sir Ron Kerr all the best in succeeding her: “Since becoming chair six years ago I have seen NHS Providers develop into one of the most influential and authoritative voices in health and care.
“We now have 100% of providers in membership and that’s a huge tribute to Chris, Saffron, the board and the whole NHS Providers team.
“I hand the reins over to a much respected colleague who I know shares my commitment to putting patients at the heart of everything that NHS Providers does. I wish him and the team well.”