Stephen Posey, Chief Executive at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RPH), has today announced that he is taking up a new position as Chief Executive at University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (UHDB).
Stephen joined Royal Papworth as its chief executive in November 2016, and has been instrumental in delivering the Trust’s move to a new hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, securing a strong financial position for the organisation, and leading it to become the first NHS hospital trust in the country to receive an 'outstanding' rating across all Care Quality Commission (CQC) domains.
In 2019, working in partnership with the University of Cambridge, Stephen helped to secure the funding for the co-located Heart and Lung Research Institute (HLRI), which will open in the coming months to treat patients for chronic cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and create, test and deliver new treatments to tackle the biggest causes of premature death.
Announcing his decision, Stephen said: “It has been an immense privilege to be a part of a world-leading specialist trust like Royal Papworth.
“The fabric of this brilliant organisation is our staff. Their unwavering dedication to ensuring every patient we see - from transplant patients to those needing emergency heart attack care - has the best care and experience possible, has been humbling to witness.
“I have been very proud to work alongside them and see their skills and knowledge genuinely save lives, especially through a global pandemic where the Trust was one of five centres nationally caring for some of the sickest COVID-19 patients. I am very proud of what we have achieved together, but as we now look ahead to the future I feel that it is the right time for me to hand the next part of Royal Papworth’s journey to a new chief executive.”
Stephen will be joining the five-hospital organisation of University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, which supports around 13,000 staff, in the late summer to early autumn.
On Stephen’s announcement, Royal Papworth Chairman Professor John Wallwork added: “Stephen’s 25-year experience in the NHS has made him an exceptional leader for Royal Papworth. Throughout his time here he has driven forward some outstanding achievements, not least leading the huge change programme to move to a state-of-the-art new hospital, maintaining an excellent clinical reputation and fantastic patient outcomes, and being a true advocate for enhancing the wellbeing of our staff.
“That Royal Papworth was the first hospital trust in the country to receive top ratings in all domains from the CQC demonstrates his strength and capability as an NHS leader. I am in no doubt that his experience and knowledge will serve both patients and staff at UHDB exceptionally well.
“Stephen will be missed by colleagues here at Royal Papworth but we share our very best wishes for his future endeavours.”
Recruitment processes to appoint a successor will begin shortly.