South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust and South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust have jointly announced the appointment of Simon Ashton as their new Group Chief Executive, a role that will provide executive leadership across both organisations.
The appointment follows a joint recruitment process and confirmation by both Trusts’ Councils of Governors. Ashton will take up the role in the Autumn, supporting the next phase of development for the emerging Ambulance Group and building on the strong collaborative arrangements already in place.
As Group Chief Executive, Simon Ashton will be responsible for providing clear and inclusive leadership across SCAS and SECAmb.
Working closely with Group Chair Colin Dennis, both Trust Boards, Governors, staff and system partners, he will support the delivery of safe, effective and high‑quality urgent and emergency care to communities across the whole South East region.
The role reflects the growing focus on collaboration across ambulance services to improve resilience, consistency and patient outcomes.
Ashton brings nearly 30 years of NHS experience, with more than a decade spent in senior executive leadership roles.
Clinically trained as a physiotherapist, he has progressed through a wide range of senior clinical, operational and strategic posts. His experience includes oversight of:
- Large‑scale clinical services
- Major infrastructure investment programmes
- Financial recovery and performance improvement
- Population health partnerships
- Collaborative working across integrated care systems
This blend of clinical insight and system leadership is expected to support both Trusts as demand for ambulance services continues to grow.
Ashton currently serves as Chief Executive of Newham University Hospital, part of Barts Health NHS Trust, one of the largest and most complex NHS organisations in the country.
During his time at Barts Health, he has led significant service improvement and transformation across both hospital and system settings. His leadership has focused strongly on:
- Compassionate leadership and workforce engagement
- Quality and patient safety
- Operational performance and service resilience
This experience is seen as highly relevant as SCAS and SECAmb continue to strengthen their joint working.
Commenting on his new role, Simon Ashton said:
“I am honoured to be appointed as the first Group Chief Executive for South Central Ambulance Service and South East Coast Ambulance Service. Both organisations play a vital role in their communities, and I have been hugely impressed by the professionalism, skill and dedication of staff across both Trusts.
“I am excited to work with our colleagues, Boards, Governors, and partners to build on the strong foundations already in place. Together, we will continue to strengthen collaboration, support our frontline teams and improve outcomes for patients, ensuring our ambulance services are resilient, responsive and sustainable for the future.”
Ashton joins both ambulance Trusts at a pivotal moment, as they continue to deepen collaboration across key areas including:
- Workforce planning and development
- Digital and data innovation
- Clinical collaboration
- Service resilience and emergency preparedness
- Staff wellbeing and organisational sustainability
The appointment marks another step in the development of the Ambulance Group, designed to strengthen leadership capacity, improve consistency across services and support staff delivering frontline care in increasingly challenging conditions.
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