WYE Valley NHS Trust (WVT) has this morning (Wed) confirmed the appointment of a new chief executive.

Richard Beeken - currently director of operations and transformation at Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust – will take over in June when interim WVT chief executive  Derek Smith steps down.

Mr Beeken’s 20 years NHS management experience includes the chief operating officer post at South Staffordshire and Shropshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, which was his second executive director post.  Prior to this he also worked at Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals and was Chief Operating Officer at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

WVT chairman Mark Curtis said Mr Beeken brought a “wealth” of senior healthcare experience in leading trust-wide transformation and managing private finance initiative contracts.

“His operational knowledge means that he will be invaluable in taking the Trust to the next stage of its development,” said Mr Curtis.

Mr Curtis paid tribute Mr Smith’s 18 months in charge of WVT  and the “extensive experience”  that  brought “much-needed stability” to the Trust during a challenging period.

“We have appreciated his commitment to driving forward changes which means the Trust is in better shape for its future ahead,” said Mr Curtis.

Mr Beeken said this morning that he did not underestimate the size of the challenges the Trust faced.

“However, I know that the skills, dedication and loyalty of the trust staff will ensure that high quality and responsive services will continue to be delivered whilst we develop long term plans for the trusts services with our partner organisations," he said.

WVT has also confirmed that medical director Dr Peter Wilson will leave at the end of May to take up the post of consultant radiologist in the Isle of Wight. He has worked in the county as a consultant radiologist for more than 23 years and as the Trust’s medical director for the last two years. 

“It’s been a very difficult decision to make and I will be leaving behind many good friends, colleagues, and patients.  However, this relocation will enable me to be closer to my family,” said Dr Wilson.

“It’s been a great place to work and live and since I arrived in 1990 the transformation within radiology services locally has been amazing.   We now have the staff and the equipment to offer the very latest diagnostic imaging services resulting in much better outcomes for our patients,” he said.