Lincolnshire hospitals trust appoints new chairman

Dean Fathers is an experienced chair and non-executive director in the NHS and private sector. He and his family have lived in Lincolnshire for eight years. The trust runs Grantham, Lincoln and Boston hospitals.

He is currently chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and will continue in his role there. He will replace Ron Buchanan, who is retiring at the end of February after two years at the Trust. Dean will start his two year term on March 5.

Mr Fathers said: “I am delighted to be appointed to the role of chair at ULHT. With the recent appointment of Jan Sobieraj as CEO it is an exciting time to take on the chair. I look forward to working with staff, partners, patients and carers to make a positive difference to the quality of care and the health of the lives of people in Lincolnshire”.

Mr Sobieraj, CEO of ULHT said: “I am delighted Dean will be joining the Trust as our chair. He’s an experienced chair in the NHS and in the private sector and will be an asset for the Trust. I look forward to working closely with him in helping to transform the Trust”.

Mr Sobieraj paid tribute to Mr Buchanan. He said: “Although I haven’t worked with him for long, I would like to thank Ron for his excellent leadership at ULHT, particularly during challenging times when he helped to steer the Trust out of special measures. I wish him well for the future.”

Mr Fathers is an honorary professor in the practice of healthcare management at Cass Business School, a visiting professor at Leeds Business School’s centre for governance, and a professional fellow with the Institute of Mental Health. He also holds the posts of chair of the steering group of the National Longitudinal Review of Schwartz Round Centres at King’s College London, is a member of Ed Smith’s Chairs Advisory Group at NHS Improvement and is a member of the NHS Workforce Race Equality Standard Advisory group.

Mr fathers has previously been chair of Doncaster Health Authority (1999 to 2002), a non-executive director of the South Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority (2002 to 2006), chair of NHS Bassetlaw (2006 to 2010) and has been the chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust since 2011.

He will receive a remuneration of £40,000 per annum and has no declared political activity in the last five years.