Claire Ward appointed as Chair at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Posted Friday, October 1, 2021 10:42 AM
Claire Ward has been appointed as Chair at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, following a competitive recruitment process. Claire has been Interim Chair since April 2021 and has been a member of the Trust Board since 2013. She is a qualified solicitor (non-practising) who served as MP for Watford between 1997 and 2010. During her time in Parliament, Claire held a number of positions including vice chamberlain to Her Majesty’s Household, and Justice Minister.
Since 2011, Claire has held a number of executive and non-executive roles in the community pharmacy sector. She continues to work as a director with the Pharmacists Defence Association, providing consultancy to a number of pharmacy organisations and companies. In January 2019 she was appointed as Chief Executive of the Institute for Collaborative Working. She was appointed to the Board of Governors of the University of Hertfordshire in 2018.
Claire Ward said: “I joined the Board in 2013 in challenging times and have been part of the journey to where we are now. I am incredibly proud of the organisation and its people. Sherwood Forest Hospitals has been through huge change and improvement and the difference has been made possible by the care, compassion and commitment of its workforce and by their dedication to delivering excellent patient care. I am committed to continuing the organisation’s culture of always seeking to improve and to learn and I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Board, the Executive and colleagues across the Trust.”
Paul Robinson, CEO at Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: “We are delighted that Claire has been appointed as substantive Chair following a period in the interim position. She has been a key part of our Trust Board for many years and over the past six months has led us with talent, compassion and a commitment to continuing to make things better for our colleagues and patients. I personally look forward to continuing to working closely with her and to benefitting from her leadership and wise counsel.”