Guy’s and St Thomas’ plans transition to a new Trust Chair

Charles Alexander, Chairman of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust since December 2022, has announced his intention to step down at the end of his current term.

Charles was previously Chairman of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and Charity from 2016 until 2022.

Whilst his current term formally ends in December 2026, Charles will continue in the role until a successor is available to take up their appointment, ensuring a smooth transition.

In announcing his intention to step down, Charles said: “This has been an extremely difficult decision, but the time feels right after serving 10 years as Chairman of two leading NHS Foundation Trusts.

“It has been a huge privilege to lead the Board of Guy’s and St Thomas’, an organisation that is dedicated not only to providing outstanding care to patients today, but also to being at the forefront of research and innovation that will transform care for patients in the future.”

Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’, Dame Amanda Pritchard, said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to extend our collective thanks to Charles for his dedicated and exemplary leadership over the past 4 years.

“Charles has been an outstanding champion for children’s services, supporting our ambitious plans for the future of Evelina London Children’s Hospital including the integration of paediatric services from the Royal Brompton Hospital, and the planned transfer of children’s cancer services from the Royal Marsden.

“His staunch support and consistent advocacy for the children and young people that we care for has been invaluable in helping to realise our vision that Evelina London becomes London’s most comprehensive children’s hospital.

“A strong proponent of improving population health, and particularly of shifting the focus from treatment to prevention, Charles has championed the importance of improving long-term health outcomes through earlier intervention and integrated care. This has been recognised through our role as the integrator for Lambeth and Southwark.

“He has also played a vital role in strengthening our organisation’s relationship with Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation, fostering greater convergence and strategic alignment to maximise the impact we have on the communities we serve in south east London.

“Throughout his time as Chairman, his firm commitment to clinical excellence has been underpinned by research, education and innovation. He has championed and strengthened our partnerships with King’s Health Partners and King’s College London, recognising the vital role that academic collaboration plays in improving patient care, advancing scientific discovery and training the healthcare leaders of the future.

“His commitment to integration, innovation and excellence leaves a lasting legacy for patients, staff and partners across our organisation and beyond.”

The process to recruit a successor will be led by the Trust’s Nominations Committee and then approved by the full Council of Governors.