London Ambulance Service today (7 December) announces that Dr Fionna Moore is retiring from her position as chief executive at the end of the year.
Dr Moore, who is 67 years old in the new year, plans to ease her way into retirement by spending three days a week doing clinical shifts with the Service, London’s Air Ambulance and in emergency medicine. She said:
“I took on the chief executive role intending to do it for two years, to stabilise the Service at what was a challenging time. I always wanted time at the end of my career to step-back from management responsibilities and focus on my first passion, the clinical care of patients.”
Dr Moore has worked in the NHS for over 40 years where she was medical director for the Service for 18 years and chief executive for two.
Chairman, Heather Lawrence OBE, said:
“I want to sincerely thank Dr Moore for her years of service.
Her leadership has helped steer the Service through a challenging period and in the last two years she has overseen one of the biggest recruitment drives in NHS history, the development of the advanced paramedic practitioners programme, an improved fleet and focused on the personal development and recognition for everyone who works for the Service.”
As Medical Director, Dr Moore led a transformation in patient care, from a doubling of cardiac arrest survival rates in just four years, to the Service being at the centre of the development of specialist stroke, trauma and heart attack centres – and she was appointed London’s first Trauma Director in 2009. Dr Moore said:
“We have seen a 63 per cent reduction in mortality from trauma in London and where we led the way, the rest of the country has followed.”
NHS Improvement London regional director Steve Russell paid tribute to Dr Moore and thanked her for the “professional dedication and personal commitment” she has made to London Ambulance Service over the past 20 years. He said:
“For two decades, Dr Moore has devoted herself to London Ambulance Service, first as a clinician and most recently as chief executive. Her willingness to step into the chief executive role at a time of significant challenge for the organisation demonstrates her commitment to the Service.
Since taking up the role of chief executive, Dr Moore has led the delivery of clear improvements which form a strong foundation for the trust’s continued progress in performance, recruitment, and improved organisational culture. There is no doubt that the Service has further hard work ahead on its journey, but it has a sound platform on which build and grow.”
As well as leading the Service, Dr Moore has been at the frontline, delivering care to patients at major incidents such as the Southall and Paddington train crashes, at events like the Notting Hill Carnival that she has attended for a number of years, and during clinical shifts across London. Dr Moore added:
“It’s been a huge privilege to work alongside so many dedicated, committed and wonderful people for so many years. I am immensely proud of the work everyone at the Service does and the progress we have made to improve our care to patients over the last 20 years.”
The Board and NHS Improvement will now seek to appoint a new permanent Chief Executive for the Service. In the meantime, Andrew Grimshaw, Director of Finance will act as interim Chief Executive.