Newsroom
Changes to the executive team
This week we have announced some forthcoming changes to our leadership team.
Dr Nick Jenkins, West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust’s medical director, has confirmed he will be stepping down from his role as of 31 May 2021 due to personal reasons. He will remain working at the Trust as a part-time emergency department consultant but will be spending more time supporting his family and providing caring responsibilities while they deal with a period of illness.
Nick joined the Trust as medical director in October 2016.
Dr Paul Molyneux, deputy medical director, will take over in the interim while the recruitment process for our next medical director takes place.
In addition, the Trust’s chief operating officer Helen Beck has announced she will be retiring at the end of November 2021.
The process to recruit the next chief operating officer will proceed within the next month and the Trust expects to appoint a successful candidate ready to start by December 2021.
Helen joined the Trust as deputy chief operating officer in September 2014 and went on to become chief operating officer in May 2017.
West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT) chief executive Steve Dunn said: “On behalf of the WSFT Board I would like to thank both Nick and Helen for their dedication and leadership over the years. Their commitment to the Trust has been unwavering and they have achieved so much in their time with us, helping the Trust make significant improvements.
“We are delighted that Nick will remain as a very valuable member of the Trust’s consultant body, and we will be supporting him while he focuses on the health of his family at this time.”
“We will be very sad to see Helen go later in the year, but wish her all the very best in her retirement.”
Nick Jenkins said: “It has been an honour to be the Trust’s medical director. Taking the decision to step down from this role has been truly difficult but I must prioritise the needs of my family while we deal with the uncertainty that illness can bring.
“I am hugely proud of the care we provide our patients and particularly how we have dealt with the coronavirus pandemic over the past year, and the setup of our staff vaccination hub. I look forward to continuing to serve the west Suffolk community as a consultant in the emergency department.”
Helen Beck said: “I have loved my time at the Trust and have always said that my only regret is that I didn’t come and work here earlier in my career. However, it has always been my intention to retire at this point and the time is right to begin a new chapter of my life.
“What stands out to me the most from my time here is the people I have worked alongside. It has been an honour to work with such dedicated and passionate professionals and they are what has made the job so enjoyable. I would like to thank them all for their support over the years.
“Of course, there have been some challenges, not least the enormous pressure of dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic over the last year. Throughout this time, the team have gone above and beyond to look after patients in extremely difficult circumstances. I feel privileged to have served alongside them all.”
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