26 January 2011
NHS London and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust are pleased to announce the appointment of Jan Sawkins as the independent Chair of the Transaction Board charged with taking both Epsom and St Helier hospitals to foundation trust status.
The Transaction Board, which will include representatives from a number of local NHS organisations, has been established following a review carried out by the Trust which showed that it could not achieve foundation trust status in its current form.
As such, the Transaction Board will explore and, once approved, implement alternative options for the hospitals to gain foundation trust status, whether on their own or in partnership with other organisations.
Jan's career history includes two decades working in the City in international and investment banking, followed by a decade in the commercial and media sectors.
More recently, she was Interim Director of Business Development at Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This included reviewing the structure of the organisation, and then leading the reorganisation that followed.
Jan is also a non-executive director and Vice Chair of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. However, to take up this post, she will be standing down from these roles from 31 January 2011. Her role with the Transaction Board starts on 1 February 2011.
Jan, who lives in Oxshott, said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of the Transaction Board and I look forward to working with my NHS colleagues, as well as local residents, hospital staff, GPs, politicians and others, to get the best possible future for both Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
"Both Epsom and St Helier hospitals have long and rich histories and, in recent years, they have gone from strength to strength, continually meeting the key standards expected of them. The role of the Transaction Board is to find a way forward for both hospitals which allows them to build on that success and to ensure that the people of Epsom, Sutton, Merton and surrounding areas continue to have access to high quality healthcare at their local hospitals."
Matthew Hopkins, Chief Executive of Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said: "Jan's appointed as Chair is excellent news. She has been with the Trust for more than four years and, as such, has an excellent knowledge and understanding of how our hospitals work, as well as what matters to our patients, local people and staff. Her appointment is important and it will ensure continuity for the Trust as we move forward."
Mark Davies is Director of Provider Transformation at NHS London, the strategic health authority that oversees the work of Epsom and St Helier hospitals. He said: "We are extremely pleased to have Jan on the Transaction Board. She brings with her a wealth of experience and, as someone who lives close to both hospitals, she is well placed to help make sure the views of local people are taken on board as the project moves forward."
Steve Pheonix is Director of Provider Transformation at NHS South East Coast, a partner in the process. He said: "We welcome Jan as a Chair of the Transaction Board and, as a partner on the initiative, we look forward to working with her to find the best possible outcome for the future of Epsom Hospital."
The Transaction Board will be made up of representatives from local NHS partners including NHS South East Coast, NHS Sutton and Merton, NHS Surrey and NHS South West London, as well as NHS London and Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust. It will also include local GPs.
Potential alternative options for the future of Epsom and St Helier hospitals include:
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St Helier (and Sutton) becoming a foundation trust;
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St Helier (and Sutton) becoming part of another foundation trust;
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St Helier (and Sutton) merging with an NHS partner which is not currently a foundation trust (to become one);
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Epsom becoming a foundation trust;
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Epsom becoming part of another foundation trust;
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Epsom merging with an NHS partner which is not currently a foundation trust (to become one).
Commenting on recent speculation about what the project means for the future of services at Epsom and St Helier hospitals, Jan added: "It's important that people understand that the role of the Transaction Board is to find alternative options for the two hospitals to become foundation trusts. It is not about shutting services on either site or moving them to other hospitals.
"The services that are run at both Epsom and St Helier hospitals are guided by the Trust's local primary care trusts and, in future, GPs. This is not something the Transaction Board will decide."
Other appointments
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Andrew Woodhead, former Chief Executive of Newham University Hospital NHS Trust has been appointed as Senior Responsible Owner for the project.
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Jon Sargeant, Director of Finance and Strategy at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has been appointed as Transaction Director for the project.
To keep up with news from the Transaction Board, including how you can get involved, visit the Trust's website at www.epsom-sthelier.nhs.uk/foundationtrust.
