Our Executive Directors

Dr Hal Spencer was appointed as Chief Executive in 2022 but actually started working at the Trust as a Gastroenterology Registrar in 2003, soon after he was appointed as a consultant in 2004. Hal was our Medical Director since 2019 and prior to that he was the Divisional Director for the hospital’s Medicine and Emergency Care Division. He undertook his medical student training in Cambridge and London. He also worked at Nottingham, Middlesbrough and Australia. Hal still works clinically each week.

Hal, said: “As Chief Executive of the Trust, I am incredibly proud to lead #TeamCRH, together with the Board, Governors and Members. Our goal is to provide exceptional care through our exceptional people, and we’re guided by our ‘Proud to CARE’ values – compassion, ambition, respect and encouragement. My key message to our communities is that we will aim to develop and improve based on whether you would recommend us as a place to receive care or, indeed, as a place to work.”

Lisa’s NHS career began here in Derbyshire through the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, and she has maintained strong personal and professional connections with the region throughout her career.

At Chesterfield Royal, Lisa leads the delivery and continued development of our Improving Care Together strategy, working with colleagues and partners to turn our ambitions into meaningful improvements for patients, communities and colleagues.

Lisa is passionate about being visible, listening to colleagues and understanding services first-hand, and regularly spends time with teams across the Trust.

Alongside her executive role, Lisa is a Non-Executive Director at Nottingham CityCare Partnership CIC and a Trustee of Global Health Partnerships. 

Away from work, you’ll often find Lisa enjoying yoga, heading to the theatre or travelling.

Michelle Veitch was appointed as the Trust’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) in March 2023; having joined from the role of COO for Rotherham Doncaster & South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), which is a mental health, learning disability and physical health community services provider. Michelle joined the NHS as part of the NHS General Management Training Scheme before being successfully appointed into a variety of senior roles in different Trusts and Systems.

Susan’s career has combined clinical practice, leadership, teaching and research. She has a specialist interest in Otology and Neurotology and experience in cochlear implantation, including through the Graham Fraser Memorial Fellowship at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre.

She is passionate about developing others, having taught medical students and doctors throughout her career, and has published widely in her specialty.

Away from work, Susan enjoys travelling and baking and is a qualified open-water diver.

Caroline took over as Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development in June 2022. She joined Chesterfield Royal in January 2022 as Deputy Director of HR and OD and has recently been appointed as the Co-Chair of the regional branch of the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA). She joined the NHS after a 25-year career in the British Army where she latterly held senior HR and OD appointments including leading national change and transformation. Prior to this, Caroline gained extensive experience in HR, logistics and training in the UK and overseas, including several operational tours.

Caroline has an Executive MBA and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She was awarded in MBE in 2018 for service to improving the lives of the Armed Forces community.

Krishna joined the Trust and our Board of Directors in October 2020 from the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust, where she was first Deputy and then Interim Chief Nurse, taking up the latter position to cover for long-term maternity leave.  

With an NHS career spanning more than thirty years, she developed her nursing and senior leadership career to Executive Director level in a range of roles in the county’s hospitals, including the former Derby City Hospital, Queens Hospital in Burton and Royal Derby Hospitals. Thanks to her connections, she has brought a wealth of knowledge of the Derbyshire health and social care system (and beyond) to Chesterfield Royal.

Krishna has responsibility for the Trust’s 2800 nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals with a priority to ensure that the voice of all professions is strengthened and ensuring colleagues have appropriate access to any health and wellbeing support. Krishna is a member of the Global Majority Chief Nurses Group which involves working collaborative with both Chief Nursing and Chief Midwifery Officers for England to provide strategic and operational advice relating to race and ethnicity.

As a Visiting Professor for University of Derby, Krishna works in partnership supporting both current and future workforce in promoting evidence-based practice and our workforce pipeline of talent.

Krishna describes herself as ‘passionate about improving patient experience, patient safety and our patient’s clinical outcomes’. Krishna leads on clinical governance, quality of patient care and patient experience and health and safety across the organisation.  Krishna also works alongside the Medical Director to lead clinical performance and effectiveness.

Steve Heppinstall was appointed to the role of Director of Finance and Contracting in April 2023, after taking the role on an interim basis from June 2022.

Steve has worked in the NHS since 2003 in a number of finance roles, starting at Wakefield and Doncaster before moving to Chesterfield and has a proven track record of not only working across the Trust but the wider system. 

In his spare time, Steve is a keen environmentalist and cyclist. He originally graduated from the University of Hull with an honours degree in Maths, is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and completed an MBA in Healthcare Finance in 2020.