New chair for Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust announced

Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE has been appointed as the new Chair of Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust (HCT). She will take up her new role from 1 October 2019.

Lesley-Anne replaces Declan O’Farrell CBE who is stepping down after serving a full term of 10 years at the Trust.

HCT is the principal provider of community-based healthcare services to the 1.2 million population of Hertfordshire. The Trust is rated as ‘Good’ by the Care Quality Commission. It has over 2,800 staff and delivers a wide range of high quality health services to:

• people in their homes
• local clinics
• schools
• community hospitals located across the county.

Clare Hawkins, Chief Executive at HCT said on behalf of the Trust Board: “I’m delighted Lesley-Anne is joining HCT as we advance the development and delivery of new service models in collaboration with our health and social care partners, aligned with the aims and aspiration in the NHS Long Term Plan.

“In addition to her a tremendous wealth of experience, Lesley-Anne brings a genuine passion for and commitment to outstanding health services which is central to the care we provide for the people we serve and our next stage of development, strategy and plans.”

Ann Radmore, East of England Regional Director at NHS England/Improvement said: “The stakeholder and interview panels were unanimous in their decision to appoint Lesley-Anne Alexander CBE as the Chair at Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust. She brings a wealth of leadership experience over a 25 year period of serving on multiple Boards as Chair, NED, Trustee and Executive in the UK and internationally.

“She is a strong advocate of cross sector partnerships and collaboration and until recently was a Non-Executive Director at The Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust after completing her term of office.”

Paul Burstow, Chair of the Hertfordshire and West Essex Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, said: “I’m looking forward to welcoming Lesley-Anne Alexander to her new role and working with her and fellow Chairs to deliver more joined up health and care and better population health across Hertfordshire and West Essex.”

Clare Hawkins added: “We also want to record our heartfelt thanks to Declan O’Farrell for everything he’s done in his time as Chair. He has been an inspirational leader who has overseen the Trust from its inception through to the ongoing transformation of community services across the county. His dedication and commitment has been second to none.”