Overview
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is entering a new phase. Located in one of the UK’s most dynamic regions, we serve a growing and diverse population across Bedfordshire and Luton. As a high‑performing, self‑standing Trust with a strong culture and ambitious plans, we are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead us forward.
You will join a Trust with solid foundations. Since the 2020 merger, we have aligned clinical and management practices across both hospitals and invested in culture, infrastructure, digital development and service improvement. Our THRIVE values guide everything we do, and we expect leaders to model them every day.
We seek a visible, values driven leader with strategic clarity and the ability to unite people behind shared goals. You will champion high‑quality patient care, drive improvement, ensure services are safe and sustainable, and support innovation and staff development.
Working within a complex and evolving system, you will shape local health and care and help improve outcomes for communities. You will collaborate with the Central East integrated care system, the ICB, local authorities, partners and the voluntary sector.
If you are a senior leader with a strong healthcare track record and a commitment to inclusive, values‑led leadership, we welcome your application. The standard Trac process does not apply. Send your CV to Carmel.Gibbons@odgers.com. You will be contacted regarding next steps.
Closing date: Monday 23 February 2026
Role and responsibilities
The Chief Executive will provide visible, values led leadership to Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, acting as a proactive and accessible system leader locally, regionally and nationally. They will direct the Trust, deliver Board agreed strategic objectives and shape wider health and care priorities across Bedfordshire. They will join a high performing but evolving organisation, working across two distinct hospitals with aligned clinical and management practices developed since the 2020 merger. Although integration continues, the Chief Executive will inherit strong foundations supported by extensive cultural alignment work. They will hold overall responsibility for Trust management and performance, ensuring statutory duties are met, delivering clinical and non‑clinical targets, driving improvement and providing safe, high quality services within available resources. The Chief Executive will lead external relationships, building strong partnerships with the Central East ICB, three place sub‑systems, Bedfordshire and Luton councils, neighbouring providers, primary care, the voluntary sector, service users and communities. Success will be judged on organisational outcomes and relationship strength. They will work to improve health and social care provision and help reduce health inequalities across Bedfordshire, supporting long‑term system aims and fostering collaboration. This role is central to delivering sustainable, patient focused care for all residents locally.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics‑led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Values and inclusion
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
How to apply / contact
For further details / informal visits contact: Name: Carmel Gibbons
Job title: Head of Healthcare
Email: Carmel.Gibbons@odgers.com
Telephone: 2075291111
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