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Knighthood for Newcastle Hospitals' Chief Executive
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Chief Executive has been awarded a Knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, announced earlier this month, in recognition of his exemplary long service to the NHS and unyielding dedication to the pursuit of providing excellent health care for the people of the North East and beyond, which is second to none. This magnificent accolade follows previous prestigious awards of a CBE in 2001, again in recognition for services to the NHS and an Honorary Doctorate of Science in 2006 by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne acknowledging services to health and innovation.
The Trust’s Chairman, Mr Kingsley W Smith OBE, wrote offering his congratulations:
‘Many congratulations on the award of your Knighthood. This is richly deserved for a lifetime’s dedication to the National Health Service and your significant achievements in making the Newcastle Hospitals so well respected and providing such a high quality of health care to patients.’
Sir Leonard R Fenwick CBE has worked in the NHS since he joined aged 18 as a management trainee, working his way up towards senior management developing a profound understanding of the organisation and workings of the NHS. He commenced work in the health service at the Newcastle General Hospital, becoming senior management lead of the Freeman Hospital and then in 1977 was appointed as Chief Executive when it successfully became The Freeman Group of Hospitals NHS Trust.
Some ten years ago a major merge of the three teaching hospitals in Newcastle led to the birth of The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust which won the Dr Foster Hospital of the Year award in 2004 and subsequently became one of the very first Trusts in the country to achieve Foundation Trust status.
Sir Leonard R Fenwick CBE has remained at the helm of this world-leading organisation throughout the many changes in the NHS since its establishment and is the longest serving hospital chief executive in the NHS today.
