Long-serving CEO announces retirement

A long-serving community and mental health trust chief executive has announced he will retire next March.

Paul Roberts will step down from Gloucestershire Health and Care Foundation Trust after more than 30 years in the health sector. 

The £200m-income trust, which is rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission, has already begun the recruitment process to find his successor.

Mr Roberts has led the organisation since 2018, and oversaw its merger with 2gether FT a year later.

He previously led University Hospitals Plymouth Trust and spent 14 years running community and mental health services in Plymouth. 

Mr Roberts said: ”When I retire next year, I will have worked for 35 years in the NHS and it will have been 28 years since I was appointed to my first NHS chief executive post. 

”Like many busy NHS roles, these posts are demanding, and I feel that I now need more time to pay more attention to my family, my health and my wellbeing.”

Trust chair Ingrid Barker said: “Paul has made a huge contribution to the trust, the system and most importantly for the people we serve, over his years as our CEO. He will leave very big shoes to fill and will be greatly missed.”

Mr Roberts has also served as vice-chair of the Association of UK University Hospitals and been a member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel.