Chief Executive, Jane Tomkinson OBE to leave LHCH
Jane Tomkinson OBE, Chief Executive at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LHCH), is to take up a substantive position as Chief Executive for Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (COCH).
Announcing her departure, LHCH Chair, Val Davies congratulated Jane on her appointment and expressed her thanks on behalf of the Trust’s 1,900 staff.
“For the past 10 years, Jane has led LHCH with great vision, drive and integrity. She has always kept her person-centred approach and been marked by her care for patients, families and her staff.
“Under her leadership, LHCH became the first specialist trust in the country to be rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission in 2016, and then one of a very select group of trusts to achieve a double ‘Outstanding’ rating 3 years later in 2019.
“Patients have consistently rated LHCH as one of the very best hospitals in the country for patient experience, and it’s a view also echoed by staff – most recently in early 2023 when LHCH was rated top in the country for a place to work.
“As a proud partner of the Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care System, LHCH works collaboratively with all our healthcare partners, including through the Cheshire and Merseyside Acute and Specialist Trust Alliance and in delivering opportunities highlighted in the Liverpool Clinical Services Review. Therefore, under Jane’s leadership, LHCH has a long history of collaborating with other local hospitals, in the best interests of patient care and improving outcomes.”
Speaking about her appointment, Jane said: “I will be extremely sad to leave Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and the amazing people who work here.
"Outstanding patient care is thanks to outstanding people, which is visible throughout the organisation, in every team, every ward and in every department. However, after 10 years, I believe now is the right time for someone else to have the privilege of leading this outstanding Trust.
"At the same time, I am delighted to be joining the team at Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. In the time I have spent here this year, I have been impressed with the passion and ambition of staff to deliver the highest quality care, and to transform services for our patients and their families.”
The Trust will now undertake a rapid evaluation of the options available to secure a substantive CEO in order to ensure strong leadership for the Trust and to continue its role as a strong collaborative partner in the system.