A new chair has been appointed for a Cumbrian hospitals trust.
Dr Stephen Singleton has this week taken up his role at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven and Carlisle’s Cumberland Infirmary.
The trust said the appointment followed a comprehensive recruitment process, led by its governors council.
He takes over the role from Teresa Griffiths who has been interim chair of the Trust since the retirement of previous chair Steven Morgan in October 2025.
Dr Singleton is a former GP in north Cumbria, a public health physician and NHS executive who has worked as an executive coach and quality improvement mentor for the last 12 years.
His career has included a seven-year spell as medical director and interim chief executive of the North East Strategic Health Authority from 2006 to 2013 and clinical lead for the Covid Co-ordination and Response Centre at the Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust from 2020 to 2023.
The NHS Intensive Recovery programme has identified trusts at the bottom of the NHS league tables where patients faced the longest waits, there was high leadership turnover and there were persistent financial problems.
Dr Singleton will lead the board of directors and governors council.
He said: “I am delighted to be appointed chair and look forward to working with the board to support all staff to better serve our patients and the whole population of north Cumbria.
“I am very grateful to Teresa for acting as interim chair and look forward to working very closely with her.
“The trust faces many and varied challenges – as well as many great opportunities – and I look forward to learning more from all the staff – and our patients – as I start in this exciting new role.”
Trudie Davies, the trust’s chief executive, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank Teresa for all her hard work, commitment, and positivity during her time as interim chair.
“Teresa has been a pleasure to work alongside, and we are very pleased that she has agreed to continue to make a vital contribution as a member of the board.
“We are delighted that Stephen is joining us as chair. His skills and experience make him incredibly valuable to the Trust at this time, and we are looking forward to working with him.”
Ms Griffiths said: “I am naturally disappointed not to have been appointed to the role of chair, but I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Stephen on his appointment and wish him every success.
“What matters most is the continued success of our organisation and the care we provide for our people and our patients.
“Over the past few months, I believe we have started to move the trust in a really positive direction. There is a clearer sense of purpose, a strong leadership team in place, and a real opportunity to build something special together.”
Jacqueline Nicol, lead governor said, “On behalf of the governors council I would like to officially welcome Stephen to the trust and we are looking forward to working with him.
“We extend our grateful thanks to Teresa. She has led the trust through difficult times, and we appreciate her dedication and commitment. She is an asset to the trust, and we are delighted that she will continue her role as a non-executive director.”
