We are delighted to announce that Joe Fielder has been appointed as the new Chair of our Trust.

He will take up his position on 1 November, succeeding Dr Maureen Dalziel, on a two-year term.

Joe is very familiar with the East London area, as the current Chair of the North East London Foundation Trust (NELFT) (a role he will continue) and will therefore be taking on the chairmanship for both Trusts.

Our Chief Executive, Matthew Hopkins, said: “I am delighted to welcome Joe to this role. He has great local knowledge and is well aware of the opportunities and challenges in meeting the needs of our diverse and growing population.

“Joe is joining us at an exciting time. We continue to make strong progress, leaving special measures earlier this year, and more recently returning to successfully hitting national targets in referral to treatment times, and in cancer performance. He is a fantastic person to continue leading our Board onto the next stage of our improvement journey.”

Joe said: “I am proud and privileged to be joining this Trust. I can’t wait to get started working with the terrific staff here to build on their tireless efforts and work towards delivering even better outcomes for patients.

“What’s particularly exciting is the opportunity presented by chairing two fantastic, but separate and distinct, organisations; to have a unique and broad perspective across the length and breadth of local NHS services, which can help create improved collaborations for the best outcomes.

He added: “I am passionate about holistic care. For me, that means looking at patients as whole individuals, caring for the whole of their needs, for the whole of their lives.

“Across the NHS we are seeing organisations working together in new and innovative ways to deliver the best possible care for patients. I hope that I will be able to influence and realise new opportunities for the benefit of local people.”

He concluded: “I look forward to working with staff, at both BHRUT and NELFT, along with key local partners, and most importantly, our patients, to do just that.”

We all share Joe’s enthusiasm for exploring even more innovative ways to work with local partners, particularly NELFT, who have welcomed Joe’s appointment too, through their Chief Executive, John Brouder: “I would like to congratulate Joe and welcome his appointment as Chair of BHRUT. This is a positive step to increase the collaboration and partnership working between our respective Trusts and this will benefit our patients and local community.”