Chesterfield Royal appoints new Chief Medical Officer

Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has appointed experienced medical leader and Consultant ENT surgeon Susan Douglas as its new Chief Medical Officer.

Susan Douglas brings 25 years of NHS experience to Chesterfield Royal, including more than 18 years as a consultant and over a decade in medical leadership. She joins from The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust, where she is Deputy Medical Director and has previously served as Interim Executive Medical Director.

Her leadership career has focused on patient safety, clinical effectiveness, quality improvement and strengthening the medical voice, alongside her clinical practice as a Consultant in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, specialising in Otology.

Originally from Jamaica, Susan graduated with honours in medicine from the University of the West Indies before a Commonwealth Scholarship brought her to the UK in 1999. Her career has since taken her through Newcastle, Leicester, Derby and Nottingham, as well as Australia, where she undertook the Graham Fraser Memorial Fellowship at the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre.

After returning to the UK, she became a consultant at University Hospitals Bristol in 2008 before moving to Rotherham in 2013, where she developed her senior medical leadership career alongside her clinical work.

Susan Douglas said: “I’m really delighted to be joining Chesterfield Royal as Chief Medical Officer. What matters most to me is working alongside colleagues, listening to their experiences and creating the conditions where our clinical teams can provide the very best care for patients.

“I’m looking forward to getting to know #TeamCRH, building on the great work already happening here and playing my part in the Trust’s next chapter.”

Dr Hal Spencer, Chief Executive at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Susan to Chesterfield Royal. She brings a wealth of clinical and senior leadership experience, but just as importantly, a very clear commitment to listening to colleagues, supporting our clinical teams and continually improving care for our patients.

“Susan’s values and approach to leadership are a great fit for #TeamCRH and I’m really looking forward to working with her as we continue to improve care together.

“I’d also like to thank Kevin for his leadership and contribution and for everything he has done for our patients, colleagues and organisation.”

Susan Douglas succeeds Kevin Sargen, who is returning to full-time clinical practice at the Trust.