26 March 2024

Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Lance McCarthy as its new Chief Executive following the announcement in December that current Chief Executive, Neil Dardis, would be leaving to take on a senior leadership role in the State of Qatar. 

Lance, who has been Chief Executive at The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT) in Harlow for the past seven years, will join Frimley Health on 20 August.

Frimley Health’s Chair, Bryan Ingleby, said: “Lance has shown that he is an inspiring, compassionate and inclusive leader with a good track record in building strong relationships with clinicians and partners. He demonstrated that he will put the needs of patients and staff at the heart of everything we do and his experience of large scale transformation, successful partnership working and the implementation of strategy based around clinical priorities are the qualities we need in a leader as we meet our future challenges”

Lance said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been appointed as the CEO of Frimley Health. The Trust has a fantastic history of successes, high quality clinical outcomes and patient experiences and it will be an enormous privilege to lead the Trust.

“I will be sad to leave PAHT after seven years and will forever have many memories from working there, but I am excited about working with all Frimley Health teams and wider system colleagues to progress their ambitions for the future.”

Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, Chair of The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust (PAHT), said: “My congratulations to Lance on his new role and a huge thank you from all the members of the board and people at PAHT.

“Lance has led the trust for the last seven years and I am proud of what he has achieved; from coming out of CQC quality special measures, to being part of the New Hospital Programme and treating 50,000 more patients every year.  Thank you, Lance for your passion, compassion and commitment to our people and the patients we care for.”

Caroline Hutton will be our Chief Executive (interim) until 19 August. In the meantime, Ellis Pullinger will take on Caroline's usual role of Chief Operating Officer. Our current board of directors.