26 March 2010
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr James Clarke as its new Medical Director.
Dr Clarke is currently a consultant anaesthetist at St George's Healthcare NHS Trust, specialising in cardiothoracics (the treatment of diseases affecting the heart and lungs). He is also Director of Education and Service Improvement for the Elective Orthopaedic Centre (EOC), which is based at Epsom Hospital, and is working with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement on an initiative to improve the way in which hospital theatres work. James has been a consultant since 1986.
As Medical Director, Dr Clarke will be responsible for the Trust's 220 consultants and 600 doctors and his main priority is to ensure patients receive the highest quality healthcare. He will also help the Trust in its fight against healthcare acquired infections, for instance MRSA.
Dr Clarke said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as Medical Director. Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust is an exciting organisation and it's an extraordinary opportunity.
"The Trust has gone from strength to strength in recent years, working hard to reduce the time it takes for patients to be seen and significantly improving the experience patients have in its hospitals. And with plans afoot to spend millions of pounds redeveloping both Epsom and St Helier hospitals, there is a lot to do."
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive said: "I am delighted to welcome James to the Trust and we all look forward to working with him.
"James brings with him a wealth of experience within the NHS and an absolute conviction to making sure we do all we possibly can to improve the experience patients have in our hospitals."
"One of James' most important roles will be to work closely with frontline staff to further improve the medical and surgical care we provide to patients. He will also help drive the work we are doing to reduce the incidence of infections like MRSA and Clostridium difficile in our hospitals. We have made great inroads in this area in the last few years, including cutting our MRSA rates by 40% last year, but we are not complacent and there is more work to be done."
As Medical Director, Dr Clarke will also be responsible for overseeing the education and training of the Trust's doctors, as well as research and development.
Dr Clarke, who is married with four children and lives in Wimbledon, will officially start with the Trust in May, replacing Dr Jonathan Kwan who is going to work overseas.
