New Chief Executive at Sherwood Forest Hospitals

The NHS trust which runs Nottinghamshire’s King’s Mill, Mansfield Community and Newark Hospitals has appointed a new Chief Executive.

Jon Melbourne has been appointed to the role, subject to essential pre-employment checks being completed.

Jon is currently the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, where he has worked since January 2022.

His appointment follows a highly competitive recruitment campaign that attracted a number of high-quality candidates from across the country.

The new Chief Executive will play a key role in helping to lead the Trust which was named the East Midlands’ best NHS organisation of its kind to work for in each of the past seven years’ NHS National Staff Surveys.

The Chair of Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Graham Ward, said: “Everyone at Sherwood who has met Jon during this recruitment campaign has been inspired by his personable approach, his willingness to listen to and work with our colleagues and our partners, and the commitment he shares to improving lives across the communities we serve.

“Despite having so much to be proud of as a Trust, we are always aspiring to improve – an ambition that I know Jon shares. We look forward to welcoming him to Sherwood to start this exciting new chapter in the Trust’s history together.”

Jon brings extensive experience in operational, financial and strategic leadership to the role.

His previous experience includes a number of senior roles across the country’s NHS, with Jon having also worked at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust.

Jon joined University Hospitals of Leicester when waiting lists at the Trust were among the worst in the country following the pandemic.

Under his leadership, the Trust achieved the largest reduction of long waiters in England and delivered sustained improvements to ambulance handover times.

During his time at the Trust, Jon also oversaw complex cross-site reconfigurations, major improvements to operational productivity, and the implementation of a new Patient Administration System earlier this year.

“As someone born and raised in Nottinghamshire, and now bringing up my family here, I know how important Sherwood Forest Hospitals is to our communities – and what a real privilege it is to be joining the team,” Jon said.

“My family and friends have received care at Sherwood Forest Hospitals over the years and I have always been struck by the compassion and respect of everyone we came into contact with. The importance of culture and of doing things in the right way are so important to me.

“I cannot wait to get started – working alongside you all and with our patients and communities – to build on the amazing work that Sherwood is already doing to provide the best possible care to our communities. I look forward to joining you soon."

In announcing the appointment, the Trust’s Chair also paid tribute to the Trust’s Acting Chief Executive, David Selwyn.

Dr Selwyn has served as the Trust's Acting Chief Executive since May 2024, where he has continued to lead the Trust following the passing of former Chief Executive, Paul Robinson, earlier this year.

“We know how difficult the past year has been for everyone at Sherwood and I would like to place on record my thanks to Dave for his exemplary leadership during this difficult time in the Trust’s history,” Mr Ward added.

“His leadership has helped to bring much-needed stability to the Trust and has delivered the first year of our new Improving Lives strategy – all while managing the operational and financial challenges we are seeing across the whole of our NHS.”

Dr Selwyn will continue to serve as the Trust's Acting Chief Executive until Jon takes-up his new post over the coming months, once essential pre-employment checks have been completed.