SHE has only been in her new role a matter of weeks, but the new chief executive of Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT) is already making an impact.
Sue Harriman replaced Alex Whitfield at the hospital trust at the end of October and is now responsible for running Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester hospitals.
The former Royal Navy nurse spoke to the Gazette about her first few weeks in the role, the challenges she faces, and her hopes for the future.
Resident doctors were mid-way through a five-day walkout when the Gazette interviewed Mrs Harriman. She seemed unfazed by the challenge of the industrial action over pay or the inevitable winter pressures on the NHS at this time of year.
Her experience, which includes a number of senior executive roles within the NHS, has set her in good stead to stay calm, roll up her sleeves and get on with it.
“I have been a chief executive for a long time,” she explained, adding: “What comes from that is a lot of opportunity to learn and develop and to get through a lot of winters. It feels reassuringly like coming home. I hope I can bring my experience in a practical way.
“You learn every time with industrial action and are better able to manage the risks. They are well-trodden plans. Yes, there’s a lot of planning, but the organisation is in a good position to be able to respond, and we have amazing people doing good work and working as a really good team. I find it stimulating to come in at this time. It’s a rich opportunity for me to learn. We roll our sleeves up and get on with it.”
Mrs Harriman said she has received a warm welcome from trust staff, describing the workforce as “compassionate, caring individuals”.
Since starting, the new leader has already implemented changes to benefit staff, including empowering them to make decisions.
“One of my first reflections was how busy we are. There are a lot of things happening all at once. I really believe we have great people in the organisation and we need to empower them to make more decisions locally on the frontline, so they feel empowered and supported to make those decisions in real time,” she said.
There is much to learn in her new role, something Mrs Harriman admitted can be “exhausting”.
She said: “I understand how important it is to pace yourself. I’m determined to be curious and open-minded.”
She hopes to be visible and approachable for staff and said one of the first things she did was encourage them to come and say hello if they see her out and about.
“When I started my career as a nurse, I remember in the early part of my career those people available to talk to. Throughout my career, it’s something that’s important for me. I’m a people person, but it’s also really important to stay connected and grounded.”
Mrs Harriman has joined the trust following a decision to delay the building of a new hospital for Basingstoke until at least 2037, during which time it could cost the trust £625m to maintain the current estates.
The government decision was a blow for hospital staff and residents. But Mrs Harriman said the focus now is to “create an environment for patients and staff that feels safe and supportive, and that is not going to be a new hospital for a long time. It's going to be important to make the best of the environment we have.”
Asked how she will do this, Mrs Harriman said: “Making sure that we are spending every public pound to offer the best value. One of the challenges is that we have got some people who come to the hospital who are in the hospital who would have much better outcomes if we can support them to stay happy and healthy and connected in their communities for as long as possible. We need to talk about how we use HHFT working with partners around us to plan some of the pathways of care to allow people to stay in control of their health needs.”
This will be partly achieved by reviewing the trust’s strategy, as well as implementing the government’s new 10-year health plan for the NHS.
However, the trust is still planning to purchase land at Junction 7 of the M3 earmarked for a new hospital, something which Mrs Harriman said was still “in progress”. The hope is to secure the land by the end of the financial year.
Mrs Harriman said a key focus going forward will be on safety and working with NHS England to ensure the hospital estates are maintained.
However, her key message to the community was to convey the amazing staff working for the hospital trust.
“It’s a genuine privilege to be the chief executive of Hampshire hospitals,” she said, adding: “That’s a heartfelt message from me, and it fills my heart with what I see. I want the public to know that the hospital is full of people who genuinely really care.”
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