Non-Executive Directors appointed to new Trust board

New arrivals announced for Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - News Release

Issued on behalf of Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust, Imperial College London and St Mary's NHS Trust

For immediate use
Tuesday 11 September 2007

Four Non-Executive Directors have been appointed to the new Board of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust. They join the new chairman Lord Tugendhat who was appointed recently to create the Board of the UK's first Academic Health Science Centre (AHSC) which was approved last month by the Secretary of State for Health following an extensive public consultation.

The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and St Mary's NHS Trust will merge on 1 October and integrate with Imperial College London. The result, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust will form the foundation for the AHSC, and will be the largest NHS Trust in the UK.

The new Non-Executive Directors are:

• Baroness Joan Hanham
• Mr Jeremy Isaacs
• Sir Thomas Legg
• Mrs Ellen Schroder

A further Non-Executive Director is also expected to be appointed soon from Imperial College London.

The appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments' (OCPA) Code of Practice. All non-executive appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees political activity (if any declared) to be made public.

Lord Tugendhat, Chairman of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust welcomed the appointments and said: "We have created a strong board of talented non-executive directors to oversee the creation of the UK's first Academic Health Sciences Centre. We are excited by the unique opportunities the new Trust will create for improved patient care, clinical discovery, medical teaching and academic learning."

Statutory information about the Non-Executive Directors appointed by the Appointments Commission is as follows:

Baroness Joan Hanham

Appointment: Non-executive
Remuneration: £5,875 pa
Declared political activity in the last five years: Conservative – Shadow Minister in the House of Lords
Other ministerial appointments held: Currently Chairman of St Mary's NHS Trust

Sir Thomas Legg

Appointment: Non-executive
Remuneration: £5,875 pa
Declared political activity in the last five years: None declared
Other ministerial appointments held: Member of Audit Commission - £13,800pa
Currently Chairman of The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust

Mr Jeremy Isaacs

Appointment: Non-executive
Remuneration: £5,875 pa
Declared political activity in the last five years: Conservative
Other ministerial appointments held: Currently a non-Executive Director of St Mary's NHS Trust

Mrs Ellen Schroder

Appointment: Non-executive
Remuneration: £5,875 pa
Declared political activity in the last five years: None declared
Other ministerial appointments held: Currently a non-Executive Director of St Mary's NHS Trust

Notes to Editors

For more information please contact Nick Samuels, Director of Communications, Transitional Executive Team, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, on 020 8383 3864

Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trust and St Mary's NHS Trust were recently rated the second and third best hospitals in the country for clinical performance, quality of care and safety1. Dr Foster Good Hospital Guide 2006 - How healthy is your hospital (April 2007).

Imperial College is one of Europe's largest medical research institutions and was recently ranked fourth in the world for biomedical research. The Times Higher Education Supplement 2006 world university rankings.

It is expected that Imperial College would sponsor an application for the AHSC to become an Academic Foundation Trust in 2008. This would be subject to a separate consultation.

This proposal did not include any service changes. Any proposals for service change would require separate business cases and impact assessments and would be subject to the statutory consultation and scrutiny requirements.

In December 2006 the AHSC partners were selected as one of the UK's 11 Biomedical Research Centres. The award guarantees the partners research funding of £19.5 million per annum for the next five years, and makes the West London BRC the leading centre for the UK. BRCs will be leaders in translating scientific research into benefits for patients.

In April 2007, St Mary's NHS Trust, The Hammersmith Hospitals NHS Trusts and Imperial College London were announced as one of two Research Centres for NHS Patient Safety and Service Quality in the UK. The £4.5 million Research Centre will be based in Imperial College's Biosurgery and Surgical Technology section, at St Mary's Hospital, London.

A transitional executive team has been appointed to take forward the new Trust from 1st October 2007. It was formed from the existing executives of the merging Trusts. It is anticipated that a permanent executive will be appointed during the next 6 months through open and competitive recruitment processes.

More information about the AHSC is available online at: www.ahsc.org.uk

About Imperial College London

Rated as the world's ninth best university in the 2006 Times Higher Education Supplement University Rankings, Imperial College London is a science-based institution with a reputation for excellence in teaching and research that attracts 11,500 students and 6,000 staff of the highest international quality.

Innovative research at the College explores the interface between science, medicine, engineering and management and delivers practical solutions that improve quality of life and the environment - underpinned by a dynamic enterprise culture.

With 66 Fellows of the Royal Society among our current academic staff and distinguished past members of the College including 14 Nobel Laureates and two Fields Medallists, Imperial's contribution to society has been immense. Inventions and innovations include the discovery of penicillin, the development of holography and the foundations of fibre optics. This commitment to the application of our research for the benefit of all continues today with current focuses including interdisciplinary collaborations to tackle climate change and mathematical modelling to predict and control the spread of infectious diseases.

The College's 100 years of living science will be celebrated throughout 2007 with a range of events to mark the Centenary of the signing of Imperial's founding charter on 8 July 1907.

Website: www.imperial.ac.uk