Chief Executive, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

About University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust

We are a University teaching hospital full of hard working and dedicated staff providing community and hospital services across the Morecambe Bay area - an area covering a thousand square miles in south Cumbria and north Lancashire.

We operate from three main hospitals - Furness General Hospital (FGH) in Barrow, the Royal Lancaster Infirmary (RLI), and Westmorland General Hospital (WGH) in Kendal, as well as a number of community healthcare premises including Millom Hospital and GP Practice, Queen Victoria Hospital in Morecambe, and Ulverston Community Health Centre.

FGH and the RLI have a range of General Hospital services, with full Emergency Departments, Critical/Coronary Care units and various Consultant-led services.

WGH provides a range of General Hospital services, together with an Urgent Treatment Centre, that can help with a range of non-life threatening conditions such as broken bones and minor illnesses.

All three main hospitals provide a range of planned care including outpatients, diagnostics, therapies, day case and inpatient surgery. In addition, a range of local outreach services and diagnostics are provided from community facilities across Morecambe Bay.

Our community services for adults are provided in people’s homes, community centres, clinics, GP Practices, community hospitals and our main hospitals. Our aim is to work with people to help them remain independent, improve their health and manage their conditions through high quality care, advice and support.

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A Morecambe Bay NHS colleague in purple uniform sitting at a desk and smiling while on the phone.jpg

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust.
We provide a comprehensive range of hospital and community services for the people of North Lancashire and South Cumbria.
Our dedicated team of over 8,000 staff work across the community and from three major and two smaller hospital sites with a proud history of delivering high-quality care and clinical excellence to our varied communities.
Through our collaborations with the University of Cumbria and Lancaster University we have a strong tradition of clinical and academic achievement. Equally vital are our partnerships with local communities, patients, NHS organisations, local authorities, faith groups and charitable bodies. Together, we aim to deliver compassionate care and the best possible results for the people of Lancashire and South Cumbria.
It's an exciting time to join our Team as we reimagine services and focus on delivery of a break-even financial position. There is a new clinical service blueprint for Lancashire and South Cumbria that we now need to make a reality, alongside working with place partners to implement innovative neighbourhood programmes to address health inequalities. We are very proud to be part of the 42 pathfinders for the National Neighbourhood Health Implementation Programme. We are also part of the Barrow Rising Programme that will see £200m of Government investment to create a public-private partnership with a vision to transform the town's economy, housing, and public services including health.
The 10 Year Health Plan has formalised the NHS’s ambition to deliver three strategic shifts: from hospital to community, sickness to prevention, and analogue to digital. As we look to the future of health and care delivery, we will emphasise the importance of population health and address health inequalities, developing care in the community and better use of technology.
We prioritise The NHS People’s Promise, and our own values are that we are compassionate, respectful and inclusive, ambitious, open, honest and transparent. As an inclusive employer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS FT is committed to reflecting the diversity of the communities we serve and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and perspectives, recognising that diversity of thought strengthens our Board and our Trust.
We are seeking an exceptional individual to succeed Aaron Cummins as Chief Executive Officer as we continue our journey to create a great place to be cared for and a great place to work. This pivotal role will lead the Trust to deliver our ambitions and our aspiration to be at the forefront of innovation and reform.
We welcome applications from candidates across a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds who bring intellect, energy, and commitment but also compassion, insight and empathy. This is a rewarding role which will offer the right person a wealth of opportunities to make a positive difference to the wider health and care system.
Your sincerely
Andrew Stephenson CBE
Chair of the Trust
Please click here to read the Job Description
Please click here to read the Person Specification
All applications must include:
- A full curriculum vitae/resume
- Quoting the role reference number: A041232
- A covering letter highlighting the aspects of the job description and UHMB that particularly attract you to the post (Microsoft Word document)
- Contact details for three referees, these will not be contacted without your permission. (References should validate a minimum period of six years employment)
- A completed Equal Opportunities Monitoring Form (which you will be redirected to once you have submitted your application) *
Right to work checks
If you are successfully shortlisted, our partner, Yoti, will contact you to complete an online right to work check. This is a quick and secure process, ensuring that all necessary legal requirements are met before proceeding further in the recruitment process.
Monitoring
One of Alumni Global’s and UHMB’s objectives is to ensure that its workforce is reflective of the local community and therefore we actively encourage applications from under-represented groups. So that we can successfully achieve these aims, while it is not mandatory we would encourage every applicant to complete the “Equal Opportunities Monitoring form” so that we can measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The Recruiting Manager does not have access to the Monitoring Information Sections of the application form at any stage of the process and the information provided will be kept entirely confidential.
For a confidential discussion on this role please contact:
Frank McKenna, Global Managing Director or David Heaton, Principal Researcher on +44 7842 003 200.
Candidate adjustment
If you require any reasonable adjustments to be made as part of the recruitment process please can you advise us so that we can ensure this is accommodated.
Closing date: 26th November 2025
Stakeholder Sessions: TBC
Final Interviews: 16th & 17th December 2025
Please ensure you have made a note of the final interview date(s). We recommend that you bookmark this microsite, as any potential updates regarding the role will be posted online.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) has a mission to redefine healthcare delivery and to fulfil its vision of being “a great place to be cared for and a great place to work.”
We are seeking an inspirational and highly accomplished individual to succeed Aaron Cummins, to lead us through this crucial stage in our development and ensure we deliver exceptional outcomes for patients, staff, and the communities we serve.
As Chief Executive Officer you will offer strategic and visionary leadership to the Trust. Central to this role will be your ability to drive the Trust’s 2022–2027 strategy, Putting Patients First, which focuses on delivering outstanding care and patient experiences, empowering staff, optimising resources, and strengthening partnerships across the local Integrated Care System (ICS). You will be pivotal in shaping the delivery of the NHS 10 Year Plan and navigating the challenges of a dynamic NHS environment while fostering innovation and promoting a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and accountability.
We are keen to hear from individuals from a wide range of professional backgrounds who share our passion for public service and our commitment to NHS values. To succeed in this role, you will demonstrate substantial experience of leading large, complex organisations through transformation. You will bring a proven ability to cultivate strategic partnerships and foster collaboration among diverse stakeholders. An unwavering commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion will be fundamental, ensuring that diverse perspectives inform all decision-making processes. Furthermore, you will nurture a culture of openness and continuous improvement will be key, as will your ability to connect meaningfully with staff, patients, and communities.
You will strengthen relationships across the ICS and wider healthcare providers, ensuring integrated, patient-centred care. You will champion the Trust’s core values of compassion, respect and inclusion, ambition, and openness, embedding them in every aspect of the organisation’s activities and operations.
This is an extraordinary opportunity to influence the future of healthcare provision across the communities we proudly serve in Lancashire and Cumbria. As Chief Executive Officer, you will play a key role in realising our vision and making a meaningful difference during this critical period of transformation within the NHS.
If you are a dynamic, inclusive leader with the experience and passion to shape UHMBT’s future, we invite you to apply. For more information or a confidential discussion, please contact Frank McKenna, Global Managing Director, Simon Green, Director, or David Heaton, Principal Researcher, whose details can be found at the bottom of this microsite.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust is committed to equality, diversity, and inclusion. We actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.