Sir Hugh Taylor update

Statement in response to NHS Improvement’s announcement of Sir Hugh Taylor as interim Chair of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Sir Hugh Taylor, Chair of Guy’s and Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am very much looking forward to working with the Board and colleagues at King’s College Hospital – with which, as a local resident, I have a strong personal association.  I will certainly be bringing to my role at King’s the same level of commitment as I hope I have shown to Guy’s and St Thomas’ over the past eight years.

“This is about creating a new future for King’s, building on the progress it has made under Ian Smith and Peter Herring’s leadership over the last 12 months. I see my role as leading a process, supported by Guy’s and St Thomas’ and other partners in the local health system, to work with colleagues at King’s to help the organisation through its current difficulties to that new future – one where it stands on its own feet as an organisation.

“But King’s cannot and should not stand alone.  In the interests of our patients and our local population, Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s need to work more closely together and with our partners, combining our strengths to improve the health of our population and the care of patients through the development of local integrated partnerships across South East London – particularly in our case in Lambeth, Southwark and Bromley - and through the provision of specialist services and their associated networks across South London and beyond.

“As Chair of King’s I will therefore be working with the newly appointed Chief Executive and the Board, to stabilise and improve our financial and operational performance – with the support of Guy’s and St Thomas’ and other partners.  As Chair of both Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s I will be promoting collaborative working and decision-making between our Trusts and with system partners in South East London and beyond.

“We do not need a merger to do this.  We will continue to operate as two organisations – but, increasingly, two organisations with one voice."