12 August 2024

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital (SaTH) NHS Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Jo Williams as its interim Chief Executive Officer, who will join during September 2024. Jo Williams, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) in Birmingham, brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in healthcare management.

During her five-year tenure at ROH, Jo Williams has led the hospital to achieve strong performance and some of the highest patient and staff experience scores in the NHS. Her leadership has been marked by a commitment to fostering a positive, values-based culture that prioritises the wellbeing and support of staff, which she believes is essential to delivering safe, compassionate care.

In her new role at SaTH, Jo Williams will continue her dedication to improving patient care and supporting healthcare professionals. “I am honoured to take on this interim role at SaTH,” said Jo Williams. “The Trust has been on a journey of improvement over the past four years, and I am keen to accelerate progress, working with local communities to ensure patients can access the high quality services they deserve.

“I am aware of the significant pressures that colleagues continue to face, and the exciting transformation work that is underway. I am looking forward to meeting with colleagues across the Trust to listen to their ideas and suggestions as we continue our cultural and service improvement journey together. I am committed to continuing to build positive relationships with our partners, as collaboration will be central to delivering integrated care and reducing health inequalities for all.”

Professor Trevor Purt, interim Chair at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, said: “I am delighted to welcome Jo to SaTH as interim CEO, as we start the recruitment process for a new CEO. I would like to extend my thanks to colleagues at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital for releasing Jo in September.

“Jo brings extensive strategic and operational leadership experience in the NHS and a strong record in driving forward service transformation and quality improvement which will benefit our patients. Jo’s passion for inclusion, wellbeing and involvement will support us as we continue to build an inclusive and compassionate culture that everyone can be proud of. I am looking forward to working with Jo, as the Trust continues its focus to improve care for the communities we serve.”

Both SaTH and ROH are committed to maintaining their high standards of patient care and supporting their staff throughout this period of change.


Biography 

Jo was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital (ROH) in May 2019. She joined the Trust in an interim role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) in June 2017 on secondment from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, where she was Deputy Chief Operating Officer for three years.

She has worked in a variety of senior management roles in several acute trusts including Wythenshawe Hospital (UHSM) and Chesterfield Royal Hospital delivering operational performance, leading service transformation and patient care improvement projects. As well as 14 years in NHS operational management, she also worked in procurement in the NHS, as a capital buyer for Nuffield Hospitals commissioning The Manor Hospital in Oxford, and nine years as a buyer supplying the manufacturing industry.

Since joining the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Jo has led the Trust on a journey of strategic transformation which has resulted in impressive achievements, awards, outstanding staff experience and being ranked ‘the most inclusive NHS organisation’ in the Inclusive Companies top 50 listing. She is passionate about building an inclusive organisational culture where everyone can be themselves and flourish to achieve their full potential.

The ROH has an enviable reputation for providing the very best care to patients and Jo believes that this level of care is only possible when the wellbeing of the people delivering that care is supported. To deliver this vision, she led the creation of the ROH “Wellbeing” Hospital which puts good staff health, wellbeing, and engagement at the heart of the organisation. Jo has also been a champion for speaking about menopause and taking strides to support staff at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital experiencing the menopause, including setting up a range of support networks.