Today (Monday 7 September) we welcome Dr Gareth Thomas as our new Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Dr Gareth Thomas takes up the position after recently serving as the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, whilst the recruitment process for the new substantive CEO takes place.
Gareth has served the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria since 2006, having initially joined LSCFT as a foundation year doctor in Chorley, before progressing through a number of medical training posts at the Trust, eventually progressing to become a consultant psychiatrist in older adult services in Lytham in 2014.
He then went in to hold a number of medical leadership roles, including within the Fylde Coast, before becoming the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy CEO, covering the entire Trust footprint across the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria.
A strong patient advocate with 20 years’ NHS service, Gareth is keen to ensure that they remain at the heart of his leadership, care delivery and decision-making.
Gareth said:
“Having spent all of my career working directly with patients, families and colleagues across our services, I know first-hand the difference that compassionate, evidence-based, high-quality care can make to people's lives.
"It has been a privilege to serve the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria for two decades. My focus, and one I will champion across the Trust, is to create the conditions for colleagues to deliver safe, person-centred care that is clinically led which will deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients, families/carers and communities.”
He added:
“It's an exciting time for LSCFT as we continue on our improvement journey working alongside our wider health and care partners within Lancashire and South Cumbria.”
Dr Gareth Thomas will remain as Interim CEO until a formal permanent appointment is made into the Chief Executive Officer role in due course.
To support Gareth's interim move from Chief Medical Officer, there will be other changes to the Executive Team including Dr Dushyanthan Mahadevan, consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry, becoming Interim Chief Medical Officer at the Trust.
