One of the longest standing chief executives, Sir Andrew Cash has announced he will retire in July 2018 after 16 years leading one of the biggest NHS Foundation Trusts in the country.
Sir Andrew will however continue to have a significant role in the NHS in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw as he will continue as chief executive system leader for the Health and Care Working Together Partnership (Integrated Care System), for the next phase of its development.
Sir Andrew has told Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s 16,500 staff and volunteers that the decision was a difficult one but after 16 years as the Trust’s chief executive and 40 years in the NHS, he says he feels the time is right to step down from his full time role.
Sir Andrew has had a distinguished career in the NHS over the past 40 years. He successfully led one of the biggest mergers of NHS acute Trusts in 2001 when he brought together the five acute hospitals in Sheffield to create Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. The Organisation then went on to become one of the first wave NHS Foundation Trusts in 2004 creating Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He also guided the successful integration of community health services with the City’s adult acute services in 2011 which resulted in the Trust becoming one of the largest integrated health providers in the NHS.
Under Sir Andrew’s leadership, the Trust has become recognised nationally and internationally for being a consistently high performing organisation which has patient care at the heart of all its decision making. It is the only teaching Trust to win the independently judged ‘Trust of the Year’ on three occasions. In 2016 the Trust was one of only 18 out of 174 NHS Trusts rated as ‘Good’ in every one of the Care Quality Commission’s domains of Caring, Safe, Effective, Responsive and Leadership.
Andrew has also led or been involved in numerous national and regional initiatives throughout his career and received an OBE in 2001 followed by a Knighthood in the Queen's New Year Honours in 2009. Both awards were in recognition of his services to the NHS.
Andrew said: "Deciding to retire was tough because of the loyalty I feel to the amazing people who work and volunteer in the Trust’s hospitals and community services. Every day I see the unstinting commitment shown by each and every member of the Trust to deliver the best possible service to our patients.
"It has been a privilege to be the chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for the past 16 years and I will always treasure the long-lasting friendships and relationships developed during my time at the Trust, as well as the accomplishments and challenges experienced during my career.
"It has been a hard decision but I have decided to let someone else have the very great privilege of being chief executive of this fine organisation. By announcing my retirement now gives time for the Trust to identify a successor and ensure a smooth transition to a new chief executive before the end of my tenure which will be in July 2018.
"Last year I was asked to lead the development of the South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw sustainability and transformation plan which I have done in addition to my role as chief executive of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. In order to have consistency as we move from the development phase of the plan to implementation, through the new Health and Care Working Together Partnership, I have been asked to continue as the chief executive system leader for the Partnership (South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw Integrated Care System), on the same part time basis, after I leave the Trust. I am delighted to do this. I am also looking forward to having more time to pursue different interests both personally and professionally over the next few years.”
