NHS Improvement has confirmed the reappointment of Professor Eileen Fairhurst as the chairman of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust for a further 12 month period.
Eileen Fairhurst has been in post since February 2014 and during that time has overseen the Trust improve sufficiently to be taken out of ‘special measures’ and receive a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of ‘GOOD’ with areas of ‘OUTSTANDING’. She is a professor in Public Health at the University of Salford and highly experienced chairman, having chaired a number of large, complex public sector organisations prior to her appointment in East Lancashire.
Her involvement in the NHS began in 1976 as a member of a Community Health Council. Since 1981, Eileen has held many non-exec appointments which have included acute, specialised mental health and primary care trusts.
Eileen Fairhurst is acknowledged as an outstanding leader in the NHS and was awarded an MBE for her contribution to the service, having been involved in the NHS since 1976 as a member of a Community Health Council. She also received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) to acknowledge the significant contribution she has made to the development of the University’s School of Medicine and her academic achievements in the field of health and wellbeing.
The Chairman’s research work has been published in more than 70 peer reviewed papers and abstracts. More recently the Trust honoured Professor Fairhurst by naming their newest building after her; A fitting tribute and recognition of her commitment to the Trust.
Eileen said: “I am delighted to be continuing working with my colleagues in Pennine Lancashire to improve the health and wellbeing of all who live and work within this patch.”