Mary Elford has been appointed as Chair for Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust, which delivers services across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough and Suffolk. 

Matthew Winn, Chief Executive, Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust said:

“We are delighted to welcome Mary to the Trust. Her ambition, warmth and passion for patient care embody the Trust’s values. Her extensive experience will be an invaluable asset to the Trust as it leads important integration work in the East of England for adults and children’s care.” 

Ann Radmore, regional director for NHS England and NHS improvement East of England region said:

“Excellent community care is at the heart of the NHS’s Long Term plan, and I am delighted that Mary is joining the Trust given her strong commitment to improving patient care. I know that she will work hard to ensure the trust continues to provide high quality services closer to people's homes to enable them to live healthier lives.”   

Commenting on her appointment Mary said:

“I am excited to join Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust at a time when community services nationally are beginning to receive the recognition and investment they so richly deserve.  I am passionate about ensuring service users and their families are involved in decisions about their own care and are engaged in developing services for the future.  I look forward to working with the excellent staff at the Trust to build on their Outstanding CQC rating.”

Mary Elford is currently Vice-Chair of East London NHS Foundation Trust.  She is a member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel for the NHS and the National Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards.  Mary’s commercial career was with the John Lewis Partnership, where she held a range of senior executive positions. 

Mary’s appointment as the Chair of Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust is for a three year tenure from 1 April 2020.  She will receive remuneration of £30,000 per annum.  Her appointment was made by NHS Improvement and is subject to the Governance Code for Public Appointments.  Mary has not declared any political activity in the last five years.   NHS Improvement ensures that all appointments to NHS trust boards throughout England are made in a way that is open, transparent and fair to candidates.  NHS Improvement routinely publishes information about all the appointments it makes on its website.