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Hospital CEO appointed ICB boss

Published on: 17 Jan 2025
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A hospital chief executive has been appointed to lead an integrated care board in a neighbouring system.

Katie Fisher will take up her new role as the CEO of South West London ICB next month. This follows the end of a nine-month contract as CEO of Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals Foundation Trust, which operates in the Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System.

Royal Surrey FT CEO Louise Stead has taken over as ASPH CEO, under a planned move to a group arrangement.

Ms Fisher has previously been CEO of mental health provider St Andrew’s Healthcare, and prior to that of West Hertfordshire Hospitals Trust. She took on the later role after serving as a director with the Royal Free London FT, with whom West Herts had a “buddying” agreement

SWL ICS is among the least stressed of the capital’s systems. It does, however, struggle with hospital discharge. One in four SWL inpatients were hospitalised for more than 21 days during 2024, compared to around one in five nationally. There is also a worrying amount of corridor care at its acute providers.

The poor patient flow from hospitals also has an impact on trusts’ ability to admit emergency patients. Nearly 2,600 attendees waited more than 12 hours from a decision to admit in October 2024, the fourth highest in any system nationally and the most in London.

The ICB’s relationship with primary care is also sometimes strained.

Another priority on Ms Fisher’s to do list will be the ICB’s option appraisal considering the business and clinical case for convergence of electronic patient records across the system’s acute trusts.

The SWL ICB is the smallest of the five in the capital, but its 1.7 million population is slightly more than the 1.5 million national average.

NHS England London director Caroline Clarke said: “Katie has a great deal of experience in leading organisations through complex change programmes, and in significantly improving the quality of care they provide.

“I know she will be a great asset to south west London’s health and care system and the people it serves, and I’m looking forward to welcoming her back to the London leadership community.”

ICB chair Mike Bell welcomed the appointment and paid tribute to Ms Fisher’s predecessor Sarah Blow, who was originally due to retire in March, after eight years in the role.

He said: “Sarah has been an exceptional leader and a driving force behind the transformation of health and care services in south west London. Her dedication, wisdom, and tireless energy have been pivotal in building a more collaborative system, strengthening relationships with our trusts, councils, and partners, and delivering better, joined-up services for local people.”