Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Dr Birju Bartoli as its new chief executive.
The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process and was confirmed after a meeting of the Council of Governors.
Birju has worked for the trust since 2003 and over the years has worked in a wide number of operational areas, from operational manager to deputy director level, as well as several corporate director roles.
She holds many healthcare qualifications including an applied biochemistry degree and a PhD in cancer research. She was the senior responsible officer for the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, which opened in June 2015, the first hospital of its kind in the UK.
She is currently the chief operating officer and deputy chief executive.
Birju Bartoli said: “I’m thrilled to be appointed as the new chief executive of Northumbria and feel so proud to be taking on such an exciting role. It’s a huge privilege to be able to lead one of the best NHS organisations in the country and I’m keen to ensure we continue to aim to deliver the very best services for our patients.
“I have such a long connection with the organisation and a real passion for everything we have built together over the years. I’m both humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to lead such a fantastic team and a great organisation.
“I’m very excited about the future and delivering the next stage of our strategy which will help everyone get the best possible care at the time they need it. While we face a range of challenges, I know that we have a brilliant NHS team across Northumberland and North Tyneside who are committed to being the best.
“One of the key opportunities will be how all health and care services can work together more collaboratively and effectively to help the public. That’s something we will be working on very closely with all our partners right across the whole of the public sector to achieve.”
Chair, Sir Paul Ennals CBE, said: “I am delighted with this appointment which comes at a key time for health and care services across the country and I have huge confidence in her ability to deliver the very high standards that our local communities have come to expect.
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“Northumbria has been one of the best performing NHS organisations in the country and Birju brings the drive, experience and leadership to ensure this continues and take us on to even greater success in the future.
“We are seeing a drive towards much greater collaboration between all our partners across the region and I know this appointment will help us all to collectively meet our aims for excellence in patient care.”
Birju replaces Sir James Mackey, who has been appointed chief executive of neighbouring trust, Newcastle Hospitals.
