Retiring Sussex hospitals chief executive given fond farewell Former Health Secretary among those to praise outgoing leader
Colleagues, friends and dignitaries have wished a fond farewell and happy retirement to the chief executive of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex).
Dame Marianne Griffiths has stepped down after 13 years at the helm of UHSussex and its previous iterations, Western Sussex Hospitals and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.
Under her leadership, hospitals in West Sussex became the first to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in all key inspection areas and hospitals in Brighton and Haywards Heath were recognised as the fastest improving in the country.
UHSussex chairman Alan McCarthy said: “The success of our hospitals has been built through teamwork and the fantastic commitment and support of all our staff.
“But outstanding organisations have outstanding leaders, and
Dame Marianne is one of the most inspirational and successful NHS leaders of our generation.”
Colleagues old and new gathered at a sociallydistanced event at Worthing Hospital on April 1.
The chairman was joined by UHSussex lead governor Lyn Camps, executive director of leadership Denise Farmer, former chairman Mike Viggers and portering manager Jacqui Campbell, who each shared memories of working with Dame Marianne.
Many others, including former colleagues, national leaders and local MPs, contributed to the occasion via video in a series of heartfelt tributes to Dame Marianne’s achievements.
Former Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt MP said: “My passion was improving safety and quality of NHS care. Marianne did an absolutely sensational job of putting together the best run, safest, highest quality care that I encountered anywhere in the NHS.
“Thousands and thousands of patients benefited because of your inspirational leadership.”
Dame Marianne’s leadership and influence also extended onto the national stage, where her Patient First continuous improvement programme was endorsed by the NHS, CQC and Department of Health, and adopted by many other NHS trusts and organisations.
The programme empowers front line staff and equips them with the skills to lead local and department improvements that benefit patient experience, quality of care and staff engagement.
This, combined with her leadership of hospitals in Sussex, led her to becoming the first woman to top the HSJ Top 50 Chief Executives list in 2018. An accolade she achieved again in 2019.
A year later, Marianne was made a Dame Commander of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List for her services to the NHS.
Thanking everyone for their kind words, she said: “I always saw my career being in the care industry and I am so fortunate that I have been able to pursue that career from my nurse training more than 40 years ago to becoming chief executive of what is today
University Hospitals Sussex.
“My passion for the NHS comes from fairness and equity and I have always been drawn to become a leader in the NHS. My relentless optimism has been key for me and I have strived to continuously improve my leadership ability and have learned a lot along the way. I have learned much more humility and I really value people and their opinions.”
Deputy chief executive Dr Andy Heeps has stepped up as chief executive on an interim basis until Dr George Findlay, formerly chief medical officer at UHSussex returns to take up the position on June 1.