A fresh chair is set to commence duties at a north London NHS trust this autumn.
Amanda Gibbon will assume her position at Whittington Health NHS Trust from the start of October, accompanied by extensive expertise spanning healthcare, ethical considerations, and organisational oversight.
Ms Gibbon became part of the trust’s board in May 2020 as a non-executive director and was promoted to vice-chair two years later.
She expressed her gratitude, stating that being chosen to lead this treasured local institution was a privilege. She emphasised her determination to continue the legacy of Baroness Neuberger while collaborating with an excellent team headed by Selina Douglas, with the goal of enhancing all areas of the organisation’s operations, particularly its leadership in Neighbourhood Health services, which the Government has identified as central to its ten-year strategic vision for the health service.
Beyond her responsibilities at Whittington Health, Ms Gibbon has held a non-executive director position at Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust since April 2021, where she acts as the senior independent director.
Her career history encompasses membership on the Human Tissue Authority, a term as a foundation trust governor at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and involvement with the UK Donation Ethics Committee. She also presides over the Biobank Ethical Review Committee at the UCL Cancer Institute and works as a magistrate.
Selina Douglas, the chief executive of Whittington Health NHS Trust, extended her congratulations, noting that the entire organisation was fortunate to have secured a chair who had demonstrated sustained dedication to both the trust and the local community during a period of significant transformation and complexity. She anticipated collaborating closely to achieve their aim of supporting people to live longer, healthier lives.
Dame Caroline Clarke, the regional director for the NHS in London, also voiced her support for the appointment, praising Ms Gibbon’s considerable experience and intimate knowledge of the organisation. She highlighted that as the capital seeks to overhaul service provision, moving care into community settings and closer to patients’ homes, trusts such as Whittington would play a pivotal role. Dame Caroline expressed her eagerness to partner with Ms Gibbon as she guides the trust into a significant new era, including the construction of a state-of-the-art maternity and neonatal facility.
Ms Gibbon succeeds Baroness Julia Neuberger, who has occupied the chairmanship since April 2020.