Ambulance service appoints two non-executive directors

The NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA) has today confirmed the appointment of Sheila Childerhouse and Judith Lancaster as non-executive directors of the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Dr Geoff Harris, interim chair of the Trust said: “I am delighted that we have been able to appoint two hugely experienced and successful non-executive directors. The skills and experience both Sheila and Judith bring will help us build a strong and challenging Board as we transform our services to patients.”

Sheila Childerhouse, who was appointed as an interim non-executive director of the Trust in July said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to continue my work as a non-executive director with the Trust. In my short time here already I have met with a number of staff and volunteers. Their passion and dedication to the patients they treat and the ambulance service is incredible. I look forward to working with them as we build an organisation that provides excellent services to patients and is one we can all be proud of.”

Sheila has a wide breadth of experience within the public, health and voluntary sectors. She has served for various local and regional health bodies since 1984 in non-executive and chair roles, including interim chair of The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Trust in 2005 and chair of the national NHS Confederation Rural Sub Group from 2004 to 2012. Recently she was chair of NHS Norfolk and Waveney and deputy chair of the East of England Development Agency.

Judith Lancaster, whose appointment starts today said: “All communities in the East of England are entitled to a first-class ambulance service and I am delighted to have the opportunity to help the Trust, and its dedicated staff, achieve this objective.'

Judith is a Barrister and has been with the Tribunal Service since 1989 where she is currently a Judge in the Property Chamber. She was Vice Chairman of the Suffolk Police Authority from 2010 to 2012 and was Chair of the Monitoring and Audit Committee during this time. She previously held non-executive director posts at West Suffolk Hospitals NHS Trust and Norfolk Mental Healthcare NHS Trust. She has also held several Voluntary Sector Appointments including Trustee at Macmillan Cancer Support from 2005 to 2010

Alongside Sheila and Judith, Frances Pennell-Buck will continue as an interim non-executive director until January whilst the Trust works with the NHS TDA to recruit further permanent non-executive directors to the three remaining vacancies on the Board.

The Trust is particularly looking for individuals that have strong finance, clinical and business leadership experience. To learn more about these vacancies and to express an interest, please follow the link below to the advert which is currently live on the NHS TDA website: http://www.ntda.nhs.uk/blog/2013/09/06/eeas-nhs-trust-ned/.

Non-executive appointments to NHS Trusts made by the NHS TDA are subject to the Code of Practice of the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Sheila Childerhouse’s appointment will run until 14 January 2018 and Judith Lancaster’s appointment will run to 8th September 2017. Both are each entitled to receive a remuneration of £6,157 per annum.

ENDS