Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Chief Executive to retire
The Chief Executive of the Trust that runs Shropshire’s two acute hospitals is to retire in the summer.
Peter Herring will step down from his position with The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) after a career spanning 44 years.
Mr Herring joined the Trust in September 2012 from the Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where he was Chief Executive for 12 years. He started his career in local government and qualified as an accountant before moving to the NHS in 1980.
The process of recruiting Mr Herring’s successor will begin immediately.
Mr Herring said: “By the time I retire, I’ll be 62‐years‐old, I’ll have worked for 44 years ‐ 21 of those as a Chief Executive in the NHS.
“As one gets older, you start to think about the rest of your life a little bit more, particularly as I recently lost my brother at the age of 62.
“I am perhaps leaving a year earlier than I might have otherwise anticipated, however I really do simply want to have enough time to enjoy my retirement.
“One thing I am confident in is that we have a very strong Executive Team, a very strong senior Leadership Team, and we have some great leaders throughout the organisation. I’m confident that together with our fantastic staff, they can take this organisation onwards and upwards.
“I will be leaving an organisation I am very proud to have served. The staff provide a superb service to our patients. I very much appreciate it and I think the vast majority of the public, and certainly our patients, appreciate that.
“While the recent CQC inspection showed that we have a number of areas in which we need to improve, there was also a lot of good in that report. Where we do need to perhaps step up a bit I’m absolutely confident we’ll be able to do that and I really do hope by the time we’re re‐inspected by the CQC that the organisation at that point can get a ‘Good’ rating.
“I am sorry to be leaving, but I hope you will appreciate that I’ve put a fair shift in over many years and I hope people will understand my reasons for deciding to retire.”
Professor Peter Latchford, Chair of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I know that you will share both my sadness that Peter has decided that it is time for him to retire, and my understanding of the decision he has made.
“It has been a privilege to work with Peter since I joined the Trust in 2013. His steady and firm leadership has brought this organisation on a journey of improvement to a position of increased confidence. I believe that confidence is shared both inside and outside the Trust.
“As we move forward to the next stage of SaTH’s journey – to the further improvements we will make – we have great foundations on which to build. Peter’s commitment to good quality leadership means that he has invested in leadership at all levels of the Trust. From the frontline to the board room there are compassionate and caring leaders who will ensure a steady hand whilst we recruit Peter’s replacement and beyond.
“I look forward to working with Peter over the coming months, with our patients and communities, and with staff across the Trust as we recruit his successor.”
Dr Caron Morton MBE, Accountable Officer at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “It has been a pleasure to work with Peter since he came to The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust in 2012.
“Peter is both inspirational and tenacious in the way that he leads his team to better develop and deliver hospital services for Shropshire people, particularly against the current economic backdrop. He has been instrumental in bringing about changes that have seen significant improvements in care and quality at the Trust.
“Peter also understands the fundamental issues that the local NHS faces and he has been pivotal in bringing hospital services closer to community and social services – improving joined-up care for those who most need it.
“I would like to wish Peter all the very best in his well-earned retirement, from me personally and on behalf of everyone at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group.”
David Evans, Chief Officer at Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, added: “Peter has worked tirelessly to improve and develop not only hospital services for the people of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and mid Wales, but also the entire local health economy.
“I have very much enjoyed working with Peter and on behalf of the CCG I would like to add my best wishes to him for what I trust will be a long and happy retirement.”
