Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust welcomes new chair

The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chair as current Chair Roger Hill steps down after ten years on the Board of the Trust at the end of January. Liam Coleman will be responsible for providing clear leadership to the Board and ensuring it continues its aim to deliver outstanding care, with quality improvement remaining a focus at all times.?

Liam has a long and distinguished career in industry and had previously been a Non-Executive Director at the Trust between 2009 and 2016. He was until recently the CEO of The Co-operative Bank plc and in 2017, led the process to successfully recapitalise the Bank.

Commenting on his appointment, Liam Coleman said, “I’m delighted to be back at The Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and even more delighted to be appointed Chair. Having worked as a Non-Executive Director for the Trust for seven years I am very aware of the dedication and pressures placed upon everybody within the Trust. I hope everyone can feel confident that I will continue the excellent work Roger has been doing as well as applying my own influence and guidance to ensure we always aim to deliver excellent, high-quality care.”

Nerissa Vaughan, Chief Executive of Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted to welcome Liam Coleman as our new Chair. He was previously an enthusiastic and committed Non-Executive Director for the Trust and I know he will be a welcome face at the Trust again. With his successful business background and experience as a Non-Executive Director within the Trust, I am confident he is the ideal person to lead the Board, at what is a very challenging time for the whole NHS.”

“We will be sad to say farewell to Roger who has been on the Board of the Trust for ten years and Chair for the past five years. He helped lead the Board through a challenging period of enforcement action, and the establishment of Wiltshire Health & Care and into a position where we could successfully combine Swindon community services together with acute care, which is helping to provide joined-up care for local people.”

“We thank Roger for his hard work and support over the past ten years and look forward to working with Liam to deliver further improvements and successes at the Trust.”