Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust appoints new Medical Director

Consultant Radiologist Dr Phil Hughes been appointed to the position of Medical Director with Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Medical Director is the most senior doctor’s role in management in the Trust and Dr Hughes will sit on the Trust Board providing experience and advice on all medical matters and ensuring that appropriate systems and mechanisms are in place to safeguard the safety and quality of the clinical care patients receive.

Dr Hughes has been a Consultant Radiologist with the Trust since 1993 and has held several senior roles including Clinical Director for Imaging, Associate Director of Planning and Assistant Medical Director before taking the role of Acting Medical Director in July 2013.

He was one of four shortlisted candidates put through a testing interview process. This involved a presentation to staff; interviews with two sequential panels made up of clinical and senior staff, mock media interviews with our Communications Team before finishing off with an interview with a formal panel.

The formal panel consisted of Trust Chairman Richard Crompton, Consultant Surgeon Mr Joe Rahamim, Anthony Farnsworth, a Local Area Team Director with NHS England, Dr Kathy McLean, Medical Director with the Trust Development Authority and Chief Executive Ann James.

Ms James said: “Dr Hughes has been with us in leadership roles for a number of years and we are delighted that he will now help take this Trust forward into the future as Medical Director.

“The role of Medical Director is the final substantive role to be confirmed in our Executive Team, following the appointments of a new Director of Nursing, Greg Dix and Chief Operating Officer, Kevin Baber earlier this year.”

Dr Hughes said: “I am truly delighted to have the opportunity to help and guide our staff and the Trust over the next few years. This is a time of great opportunity and I promise I will do my best for our staff, our patients and our organisation. I hope I can support staff in delivering the sorts of services we are all proud of and passionate about at Plymouth.”