Published on: 1st May 2015
Eileen Ziemer-Cottingham, the Chairman of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, will be leaving the Trust at the end of this month (April), having served the maximum term possible as the Trust’s Chairman.
Speaking about her 14 years with the specialist mental health, learning disability, substance misuse and social care Trust, Eileen said:
I have really enjoyed my years with the NHS, in various roles as Non-Executive Director and Chairman. I have great respect and admiration for the many great staff and volunteers who regularly demonstrate their total commitment to the health and care of local people and it is to their credit that I have enjoyed my time with them.
Eileen joined the Trust in 2001 as a Non-Executive Director and played a key role in the organisation becoming a foundation trust in 2007. In her role as Chairman she has ensured that the Trust continues to provide high quality, safe services for the communities it serves and works closely with the Council of Governors to ensure that the patient/carer voice is heard.
Eileen continued:
I have seen a huge amount of changes to local health services, particularly for people with mental health problems, which have altered significantly over my years on the board. I have always been committed to ensuring parity of esteem for mental health and breaking down the stigma people sometimes face with these types of problems.
It has been a pleasure to have been so involved in so many innovative developments, including the Trust becoming a foundation trust and the £15m development of mental health rehabilitation services in Lincoln at Discovery House.
I will miss the team at LPFT, the clinical and support staff have a lot to be proud of and I know they will continue to make a difference. I wish everyone across the Trust a justified, successful future.
Chief Executive Dr John Brewin said:
I would like to thank Eileen for her commitment and support over the past few years. She has devoted a lot of time and energy to the NHS for which we are thankful. Her experience and knowledge has been invaluable and she will be missed by us all.
The Trust has conducted an extensive recruitment and selection campaign to appoint a new Chairman and this was approved at the Council of Governors’ meeting on Thursday 23 May.
Paul Devlin, has a varied and successful career in a number of senior leadership roles within the third sector and also experience gained within the health sector both at executive and non-executive level. He will officially join as Chairman from the 1 May for a term of three years.
