New boss to take over NHS hospital trust

The boss of a mental health trust that is the focus of a landmark public inquiry has been appointed as the new chief executive of two NHS hospitals.

Paul Scott will take over at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT) in July after Nick Hulme announced his retirement in October.

Scott is currently head of the Essex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) which has been the subject of criticism as part of the Lampard Inquiry, examining the deaths of more than 2,000 people at NHS-run mental health units in Essex.

When announcing Scott's appointment, ESNEFT said it was "delighted".

ESNEFT said Scott had been appointed "after an open and rigorous recruitment process".

The trust runs the Ipswich and Colchester hospitals.

He has previously worked as the chief financial officer at Cambridge University Hospitals Foundation Trust and was director of finance at the former Ipswich Hospital NHS Trust.

Scott said: "I'm looking forward to joining the ESNEFT team in July where I know together, we can build on service improvements and transformation that has already started, ensuring that the voices of patients and their families is central to the design and delivery of care."

Tracy Dowling, the chairwoman of ESNEFT, said: "We are delighted that Paul will be joining us as chief executive.

"His compassionate leadership style and emphasis on inclusive partnership working will help us achieve our shared ambition of delivering the very best healthcare to the communities we serve."

Hattie Llewelyn-Davies, chairwoman of EPUT, said: "I want to thank Paul for his leadership of the trust over the last six years where he has overseen a programme of improvement and transformation, putting patients and carers at the heart of the trust.

"He has been an inspirational leader for us, driven by our shared values at all times. EPUT has benefitted greatly from his time with us."

The Lampard Inquiry is examining deaths that happened between 2000 and 2023. Scott was appointed at EPUT in 2020.

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