New CEO named for ‘outstanding’ trust

Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust has appointed a new chief executive to replace Sir Jim Mackey.

Chief operating officer Birju Bartoli will take over the top job when Sir Jim, who is also the national electives chief, leaves to run neighbouring Newcastle Hospitals FT in the new year.

Dr Bartoli, who is the trust’s deputy chief executive, has worked for Northumbria FT since 2003, holding several operational manager and corporate director roles.

She was the senior responsible officer for the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, which opened in June 2015, the first hospital of its kind in the UK. Dr Bartoli holds a PhD in cancer research and an applied biochemistry degree, among several healthcare qualifications.

She said it was a “huge privilege” to lead Northumbria FT, which she described as “one of the best NHS organisations in the country”.

She added: “I have such a long connection with the organisation and a real passion for everything we have built together over the years. I’m both humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to lead such a fantastic team and a great organisation.”

Northumbria FT, rated “outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest trusts in the country geographically, providing services to more than 500,000 people across Northumberland and North Tyneside.

Trust chair Sir Paul Ennals added: “We are seeing a drive towards much greater collaboration between all our partners across the region and I know this appointment will help us all to collectively meet our aims for excellence in patient care.”

Sir Jim has been Northumbria FT’s CEO for 18 years, although he took a secondment to lead NHS Improvement from 2015 to 2017. He will continue to lead the national elective recovery programme at NHS England when he takes over at Newcastle.