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June 2008

NEW ROLE FOR EX ALLIANCE CHIEF

Jonathan Walsh to chair Dorset HealthCare NHS Foundation Trust

Jonathan Walsh has been formally announced as the new chairman of Dorset HealthCare NHS Foundation Trust – bringing with him a wealth of experience from both the private and public healthcare sectors.

Mr Walsh (57) from Tincleton in Dorchester began his new role on 1 June, replacing the retiring Michael Parkinson at the Trust, which provides mental health, learning disability, addictions, community brain injury and community dental services for the majority of Dorset.

Most recently Mr Walsh held the position of vice chair at Dorset Primary Care Trust, where he particularly focused on delivering improvements to commissioning. Prior to this he spent four years as the managing director of Alliance Medical Ltd which, during his time at the helm, became the UK’s largest independant provider of diagnostic imaging. By introducing a strong commitment to Clinical Governance, and innovatively restructuring the company’s marketing strategy to focus on the NHS, he oversaw exceptional growth - acquiring the NHS’ largest diagnostic contract by a private sector firm – and adding substantial shareholder value to the company.

Other career highlights include directorships with both BUPA DentalCover and Boots Insurance Services, working as a healthcare consultant at KPMG to support the introduction of NHS trusts and a role as vice president and general manager with American Express International Insurance Services.

Delighted with his new role, Mr Walsh commented: “I am looking forward enormously to working for such a well regarded NHS Trust – particularly with the unique issue of an ageing population across the county. One of my primary aims will be to improve access to services and, where possible, to eliminate waiting times across Dorset. In addition, I am very keen to encourage even closer workings with key stakeholders such as social services and the voluntary sector – improved relationships here can only benefit our service-users.”

Mr Walsh was appointed to the chairmanship by the Trust’s publicly elected Council of Governors. On this note he added: “I am pleased to be one of the first NHS chairs in the UK to be appointed in such a democratic way and I look forward to playing my part in serving the needs of the population of Dorset.”

Richard Lacey, Council Vice Chair and Chair of the Governors’ Nominations Committee, concluded: “Jonathan impressed us all with his obvious passion for healthcare and his desire to bring about continuous service innovation. With his experience and board level input we are confident that the people of Dorset will benefit from even greater improvement to already impressive levels of customer care.”

Mr Walsh was educated at Sherborne School after moving to the county aged ten. A short spell in the army followed, before he embarked on his lifelong career in healthcare.  Married with two sons and a daughter, Mr Walsh’s favourite pastime is sailing, indeed he recently sailed from Greece to the Canary Islands before participating in a rally across to St. Lucia.