Appointment of Chair for Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust
Following the recruitment process in September 2024, NHS England has confirmed the appointment of David Allen OBE as our next Chair at Royal Cornwall Hospitals. He will succeed Dr Mairi McLean who will be leaving us in early January 2025 having served the maximum term allowed of non-executive board members.
David, who is relocating to Cornwall with his family, is an experienced Non-Executive Chair and Board member in various settings including Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, former chair of both the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and Exeter College Further Education Corporation. Until recently he worked as a private consultant for education providers.
Throughout his career David has held a number of senior leadership positions in the education sector, including Deputy Chief Executive and Registrar roles at the universities of Exeter, Birmingham and Nottingham. In all these roles David worked closely with medical schools and the NHS. For ten years at Exeter David jointly led (with Falmouth University), the joint venture that developed and operated the Combined Universities in Cornwall campus near Penryn.
Upon receiving confirmation of his appointment David said: “It’s a genuine privilege to be joining RCHT, particularly with the exciting developments on the horizon. Of course, there are challenges ahead for the hospitals and wider health and care system, so I am determined to do everything I can to support colleagues across RCHT to continue to build on our core values of Respect, Compassion, Honesty and Teamwork. In this way we can continue to provide the best quality of care that we can and continue to improve.”
RCHT Chief Executive, Steve Williamson added: “We will be sad to say farewell to Mairi Mclean who has been a hugely respected and compassionate leader as Non-Executive Director and then Chairwoman at RCHT for the last 10 years and we send her our best wishes for the future.
“David brings a wealth of senior and Board level experience from within the NHS and across the education sector. I am delighted with David’s appointment and very much look forward to working with him over the coming years to progress our vision for Outstanding care for One and All.
“The role of Chair carries considerable responsibility and influence, not only within RCHT and the health and care system but across communities more widely. I look forward to working with David as we continue to develop our hospitals and services over the coming years to meet the future needs and expectations of our population.”
Elizabeth O’Mahony, Regional Director of NHS England in the South West, said: “David is well-acquainted with the opportunities and challenges the NHS faces and will bring extensive Board-level experience to both the Trust and the broader NHS in the South West. I look forward to welcoming him to his new role.
“I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Dr. Mairi McLean for her compassion and commitment to enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients, their families, and communities in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.”
David’s first day at RCHT will coincide with RCHT’s board meeting in public on Tuesday 7 January 2025.
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Notes:
Non-executive appointments to NHS Trusts are made by NHS England and made in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. NHS England ensure that all appointments to NHS trust boards are made in a way that is open, transparent and fair to candidates.
