Media Release
Date: 2 October 2020
Top appointment for RUH Trust
A former local GP with 30 years' experience of working with the local Bath community has been appointed as a new Non-Executive Director to the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust.
Dr Ian Orpen, also formerly the Clinical Chair for Bath and North East Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, will play a key role in bringing an independent perspective to the boardroom and use his professional skills and insight to support the governance and strategic development of the Trust.
Dr Orpen said: "I'm delighted to be taking up the role of Non-Executive Director. As a local GP I have seen first-hand the critical role that an effective local hospital plays in direct patient care and its place at the centre of the local health and care system for expertise and specialist care delivery.
"Through my time as a Bath GP, and seven years as the Clinical Chair of BaNES CCG, I have wealth of experience within the local care system and have developed a very good understanding of the workings of the RUH, both the challenges it faces as well as the opportunities available too, as we move through the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I am particularly excited by the RUH's Improving Together organisational development programme, which aims to drive improvement at all levels in the Trust, empowering staff and defining and aligning common goals. I'm keen to see how this can be expanded into the wider health and care community beyond the RUH as we break down some of the traditional barriers and develop different ways of working in our system.
"I'm thrilled to be taking up this role with the RUH and look forward to doing what I can to help support and guide the Trust moving forward."
Trust Chair Alison Ryan said: "We were looking for someone with an understanding of the challenges we face as we go forward, both in Bath and the wider health system, who had passion for healthcare and our community and who had expert insights. Dr Orpen admirably fitted the bill on all counts and we are delighted he will be joining us."
The Trust AGM will take place virtually on Tuesday 13 October, from 2pm – 4pm, via the MS Teams video conferencing service. All you need to do to join the meeting is to type the following link into your web browser:
The AGM is an opportunity to meet our new Chief Executive, Cara Charles-Barks, who will be sharing the progress we have made over the last year and what the future might hold for the RUH.
There will also be an update on our financial position, our objectives and priorities, and the measures we are taking to ensure the hospital is open and can continue to treat patients safely during the COVID-19 pandemic.