
One of the longest standing Chairs in the NHS will be stepping down in Summer 2025. Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospitals, joined the Trust in 2013, and has come to the end of her tenure in this role.
Dame Linda has given an impressive 30 years’ service to the NHS in a range of non-executive Chair roles across several NHS organisations in West Yorkshire, culminating at Leeds, one of the largest trusts in the country. In 2020, she was recognised with damehood in the Queen’s honours for her services to healthcare, her contribution to the community and her tireless commitment to address the under representation of women in senior roles across corporate Britain and in public services.
At Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Dame Linda is credited with steering the organisation through an impressive turnaround. Under her leadership, the Trust has moved from Requires Improvement to a Good CQC rating, improved staff engagement to some of the highest levels and brought the Trust back into financial surplus. She is well known for her passionate belief in collaboration and partnership working and has played a pivotal role across the City, and wider region, in bringing together partners from health, care, government, academia, business and industry.
During her time at Leeds, Dame Linda has also led on many national projects including the Messenger and Pollard NHS Leadership Review alongside General Sir Gordon Messenger and the development of the Health and Care Hub in Leeds alongside Sir Chris Wormold, DHSC Permanent Secretary.
Commenting on this announcement, Dame Linda Pollard said: “I am extremely sorry to be leaving Leeds Teaching Hospitals. The last almost 12 years have been the highlight of my career. During this time, I have had the privilege of working with some amazingly talented colleagues at the Trust who are hugely inspiring and strive every day to do their best for our patients and their families. I have enjoyed every second of my time at the Trust and have made some great friends.
She continued: “The NHS is facing some of its toughest challenges yet, but I am hopeful that with clear focus from the new Government and the creation of the NHS Plan will bring about the new and innovative approaches needed to get the service back to where it needs to be.”
Linda’s exact departure date is yet to be confirmed but the Trust will begin a recruitment process for her replacement shortly.
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