Medic who stood to be MP appointed hospital CEO

A trust has appointed a new hospital site ‘chief executive’, whose predecessor stood down after less than two years.

Amanjit Jhund will take over from Ralph Coulbeck at Whipps Cross Hospital, part of Barts Health Trust.

Mr Coulbeck, hired on a permanent basis last July having been interim CEO since November 2021, is leaving to take a career break, the trust announced in March. 

Barts told HSJ the date of his departure has not yet been confirmed. However, it is expected to be later this summer once handover is completed.

Dr Jhund was hired as deputy CEO of Whipps Cross Hospital in May 2022. He is a medic by background and worked as a hospital doctor in England and Scotland before joining management consultancy firm McKinsey.

While on sabbatical, he stood as a Labour Party candidate for East Dunbartonshire during the 2015 general election. However, he lost out to John Nicholson of the Scottish National Party.

He later joined Barts after holding board and executive roles at Croydon and Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells trusts. He also holds a masters in public health and epidemiology from Harvard. Barts said he maintains his General Medical Council licence and registration.

Dr Jhund said: “I am unashamedly ambitious for Whipps because this is my hospital, it is where I bring my kids when they are sick, and it is where I get treated myself. As a doctor, I know that nothing is more important than thinking about how we can improve the care we provide for our patients.

“We have an exciting year ahead, as we look to not just continue our journey towards a new hospital, but also to improve the care we provide today.

“Together, we have the potential to make this one of the most transformative years in the history of Whipps Cross and I’m deeply honoured and humbled to be chosen to lead you in this journey.”

Ministers have pledged to “fully fund” the redevelopment of Whipps Cross, which is one of the hospital schemes planned to be completed before 2030 under the government’s new hospitals programme.

Barts trust chief executive Shane DeGaris said Dr Jhund will “bring a new depth and breadth of experience to our senior leadership team”.

He added: “I am also deeply grateful to Ralph, not only for all the work he has done at Whipps Cross in the last few years, but for ensuring a smooth handover.”