Dr Sue O’Connell, Chief Executive Officer of DHSC-owned Community Health Partnerships (CHP), has announced that she will be retiring after 17 years at the helm.
Sue, who joined CHP in 2004 and was appointed CEO in 2006, will hand over to Wendy Farrington-Chadd at the end of July 2021.
Throughout her career, Sue has been committed to working with the NHS to provide the community-based estate needed to deliver high-quality, integrated services and contribute to the development of healthy communities.
CHP Chair, Catherine Mason thanked Sue for her work for the NHS throughout her career.
She said: “Sue has dedicated her career to doing her best for the NHS, first as a general practitioner and then leading CHP in enabling excellent patient care through high quality buildings.”
“Her achievements are vast but most notably she has presided over the single biggest capital investment in community health infrastructure for the NHS. She oversaw the development of the NHS Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) programme, creating 49 public private partnerships, through which 350 modern, high quality health centres have been built. A portfolio worth over £2.5 billion. This investment has generated significant social value and delivered long-term regeneration benefits in the local communities surrounding these community hubs.
“Sue has been an exceptional leader and leaves behind a great legacy. She has been compassionate, challenging, and always putting people and the NHS first. CHP will continue to emulate the values and standard she has set.”
Incoming CEO, Wendy Farrington-Chadd, has extensive CEO and Board level experience within the NHS. She has worked across the complete spectrum of the healthcare system both in hospital providers and in commissioning, and has a wide range of experience, including in estates and investment. She is a former Chairwoman of the West Midlands Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and ex-Chair of NHS West Midlands Providers.
Wendy is currently a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chairman for the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS University Foundation Trust.
Catherine said: “I look forward to working with Wendy to continue the success of Community Health Partnerships and ensure the NHS continues to benefit from high quality community-based infrastructure to support its clinical delivery needs.”
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16 June 2021
