The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has appointed Patricia Wright to the post of chief executive.
Patricia, who is currently chief executive of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Trust, is a senior healthcare specialist with 32 years in healthcare, working at Board level for the last 12 years. She has broad experience in the acute sector, primary care and a large health authority in both professional and general management roles, and in the third sector as a Trustee of an older people's charity.
Patricia began her career as a pharmacist and worked in both the hospital service and within primary care. She was co-editor of ‘The Cytotoxic Handbook’ and founder member of the British Association of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN). In 2001 she moved into general management and has extensive experience of working at senior level across health and social care, most recently as the Chief Executive of a Primary Care Trust and currently a Foundation Trust.
She is particularly interested in how health systems operate and how we can align system and behavioural change to transform the health of, and healthcare for, the population.
Commenting on her appointment, Patricia said:
I am delighted to have been appointed to such a prestigious role and look forward to managing the Royal College of Physicians at a very exciting time in its history.
RCP president Sir Richard Thompson, said:
I’m delighted to welcome Patricia Wright to our CEO post. Like her distinguished predecessor she brings useful and practical knowledge of the NHS, which will be of great benefit to the RCP.
Patricia takes over from Martin Else, RCP chief executive since 2005.
For further information, please contact Linda Cuthbertson, head of PR, on 0203 075 1254 / 0774 877 7919, or email Linda.Cuthbertson@rcplondon.ac.uk