19 February 2018

Chief Executive announces his retirement after almost four decades of service


One of the longest standing Chief Executives, Sir Andrew Cash has announced he will retire in July (2018) after 16 years leading one of the biggest NHS Foundation Trusts in the country. Sir Andrew will however continue to have a significant role in the NHS in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw as he will continue as Chief Executive System Leader for the Health and Care Working Together Partnership (Integrated Care System), for the next phase of its development.

Sir Andrew has told Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s 16,500 staff and volunteers that the decision was a difficult one but after 16 years as the Trust’s Chief Executive and 40 years in the NHS, he feels the time is right to step down from his full time role as Chief Executive.

Sir Andrew has had a distinguished career in the NHS over the past 40 years. He successfully led one of the biggest mergers of NHS acute Trusts in 2001 when he brought together the five acute hospitals in Sheffield to create Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Organisation then went on to become one of the first wave NHS Foundation Trusts in 2004 creating Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He also guided the successful integration of community health services with the City’s adult acute services in 2011 which resulted in the Trust becoming one of the largest integrated health providers in the NHS.

Under Sir Andrew’s leadership, the Trust has become recognised nationally and internationally for being a consistently high performing organisation which has patient care at the heart of all its decision making. It is the only teaching Trust to win the independently judged ‘Trust of the Year’ on three occasions. In 2016 the Trust was one of only 18 out of 174 NHS Trusts rated as ‘Good’ in every one of the Care Quality Commission’s domains of Caring, Safe, Effective, Responsive and Leadership.

Andrew has also led or been involved in numerous national and regional initiatives throughout his career and received an OBE in 2001 followed by a Knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours in 2009. Both awards were in recognition of his services to the NHS.

During his career he has led work nationally on the Patients Charter, Year 2000 contingency planning for the NHS and he was Director General for Provider Development at the Department of Health (DH). In 2004, he was elected by his peer group of fellow Chairs and Chief Executives to be the first Chair of the new national Foundation Trust Network (FTN). He has also been Chair of the Shelford Group, and is currently Deputy Chair of the NHS Confederation and Chair of The NHS Employers Policy Board.

He has been consistently named as one of the top NHS Chief Executive’s by the Health Service Journal and last year was described as: “an exceptional leader who provides a clear vision for his Trust and for the wider healthcare system.” In December 2017 Andrew was recognised for his leadership in the HSJ Chief Executive of the Year award. However Sir Andrew told staff that the success of the organisation and the pride he has enjoyed during his time as Chief Executive was only possible thanks to the 16,500 amazing people who work so hard in the city’s five adult hospitals and community health services every day.

He said: "Deciding to retire was tough because of the loyalty I feel to the amazing people who work and volunteer in the Trust’s hospitals and community services. Every day I see the unstinting commitment shown by each and every member of the Trust to deliver the best possible service to our patients. It has been a privilege to be the Chief Executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the past 16 years and I will always treasure the long-lasting friendships and relationships developed during my time at the Trust, as well as the accomplishments and challenges experienced during my career. It has been a hard decision but I have decided to let someone else have the very great privilege of being Chief Executive of this fine organisation. By announcing my retirement now gives time for the Trust to identify a successor and ensure a smooth transition to a new Chief Executive before the end of my tenure which will be in July 2018.

Last year I was asked to lead the development of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw sustainability and transformation plan which I have done in addition to my role as Chief Executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. In order to have consistency as we move from the development phase of the plan to implementation, through the new Health and Care Working Together Partnership, I have been asked to continue as the Chief Executive System Leader for the Partnership (South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System), on the same part time basis, after I leave the Trust. I am delighted to do this. I am also looking forward to having more time to pursue different interests both personally and professionally over the next few years.”

The Health and Care Working Together Partnership (South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System) is made up of Health, Local Authority and Voluntary organisations from across South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw and is responsible for taking forward the plans outlined in the local transformation and sustainability plan for the region developed last year.

Tony Pedder, Chairman of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We have been incredibly fortunate to have had in Andrew an outstanding Chief Executive. He led the Trust strongly, always guided by what is right for patients. He has a fundamental belief that clinicians should be at the heart of the organisation’s decision making and this has stood us in good stead to withstand the challenges but more importantly take opportunities to continually develop patient care, pioneer research and be at the forefront of innovation. Andrew has the NHS and its values written right through him and his loyalty not just to the Trust, and its staff but also to the city of Sheffield, city region and the NHS is apparent in all that he does.

After 40 years dedicated NHS service, I fully understand and respect his decision to retire as Chief Executive of the Trust. He will leave behind a resilient organisation and I am confident that we will remain what we have been under Andrew’s leadership which is a clinically-led organisation focused on patient care, with a caring and compassionate culture. We will of course continue to benefit from Andrew’s experience and commitment to healthcare through his role with the new South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System.”

Chief Executive of NHS England, Simon Stevens said: "Andrew has made an enormous contribution to the NHS over many years of public service, both regionally and nationally. As he passes on the leadership baton in Sheffield it is heartening that one of our most experienced and successful hospital chief executives is now stepping up to lead the next chapter of the NHS evolution through the creation of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System."

Ian Dalton CBE, Chief Executive, NHS Improvement added: “Sir Andrew is an outstanding public servant who has worked tirelessly over many years to ensure the patients of Sheffield receive the best possible NHS care. He has been an outstanding organisational and national health leader and a true inspiration to his staff. I am very pleased to support Sir Andrew’s move from the CEO role at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals to continue to serve in the NHS as Lead Executive of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System. I have known Sir Andrew for many years and am confident his experience and leadership in the Integrated Care System will be pivotal in delivering quality integrated NHS care to the people of South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw. I very much look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role.”

Gill Morgan, Chair, NHS Providers added: “Andrew has been a fantastic manager and leader in the NHS. As a long standing Chief Executive he shaped the NHS in South Yorkshire through Sheffield Teaching Hospitals and more recently through his leadership of the emerging Integrated Health system. He has contributed nationally with two leadership stints at the Department of Health. He was also instrumental in setting up the Foundation Trust Network which is now NHS Providers. I have been privileged to work with him for all this time. He will be greatly missed by the service and by his many friends.”

Kath Parker, Lead Governor, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust added: “I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and commitment to the Trust and for the important part he has played in improving patient and staff experience over the last 16 years. Andrew will always consider the impact of decisions on patients and staff which is an important quality for a leader of any healthcare organisation and something which is very important for us as Governors of the Trust.”

John Campbell, Chair of the Staffside at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: “Andrew will leave a legacy for the people of Sheffield in terms of the healthcare we enjoy. He has always had patients at the centre of his decision making and he genuinely cares about the people who work across the Trust. I have always found Andrew to be a person who will listen and act where he can and over the years we have been able to work together on a number of issues to make improvements for patients and staff. “

Sir Keith Burnett, Vice Chancellor, University of Sheffield said: “The people of Sheffield City Region owe a real debt of gratitude to Sir Andrew Cash for the skilled and purposeful way he has led Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The pressures and demands on our health service have been extraordinary, but Andrew has navigated the challenges of delivering excellent care and political and financial pressures in ways which are rightly admired across the UK. Much of this success also comes from his approach to partnership. As the head of a University which grew out of the Sheffield School of Medicine, we have had the closest of relationships with our local hospitals for over 100 years. Today developing the doctors of the future and undertaking leading medical research continues to be at the heart of our partnership with the Trust, with Andrew always strongly supportive of our partnership. I would like to sincerely thank Andrew for his exceptional leadership and we wish him all the very best for the future."

 



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