University Hospital Southampton announces new chair

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is pleased to announce that Jenni Douglas-Todd has been appointed as its new chair.

Jenni will succeed Peter Hollins whose term of office comes to an end on 31 March.

On behalf of the UHS Council of Governors, Lead Governor Bob Purkiss said; “I am delighted that following a rigorous selection process, we have appointed Jenni Douglas-Todd.

“Jenni was previously a non-executive director and deputy chair here at UHS and is currently director of equality and inclusion for NHS England and NHS Improvement. She knows and understands the Trust well and has always demonstrated a deep commitment to its values.

“We would like to also take this opportunity to thank our incumbent chair, Peter Hollins, for his unstinting service and leadership of the Trust through what, over the last few years, has been the most testing time in its history. During his 11-year involvement, he has helped build UHS into one of the country’s leading teaching hospitals, providing world class patient care and ground-breaking medical research.”

Commenting on her appointment, Jenni Douglas Todd said; “I am delighted to be appointed as the next chair of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust. It is an organisation that I admire and feel a huge personal affiliation for, having worked here previously as a non-executive director and deputy chair. As we come out of the pandemic, I am excited to work with CEO, David French, his very capable executive team and all 13,000 of the amazing individuals who make up UHS, to help navigate the Trust towards its future within the new vision of collaboration across the NHS healthcare system. Together with the support of the Trust Board and Council of Governors, I am confident that UHS will continue to play its part as a leading innovator in patient care and treatment development, and further its vision of world class care, delivered by world class people.”

Jane Bailey, the current deputy chair of UHS, will be appointed interim chair of the Trust from 1 April before Jenni is able to take up the position in July. Jenni will continue in her existing role as chair of the Dorset NHS Integrated Care System after taking up her UHS role.

Peter Hollins said; “After six years as chair of UHS and several years before that as a non-executive director, I will miss UHS terribly but I am delighted to be leaving the chair role at the Trust in the very capable hands of Jane and then Jenni with both of whom I have worked closely over a period of several years.”