Organisational structure
The Trust is managed by a Board of Directors and they are responsible for all financial, operational and strategic issues. These are discussed at monthly Board of Director meetings, held in public.
The Trust is overseen by a Council of Governors who are appointed by local organisations, and elected by our members that are drawn from staff, patients, and the public. They help to ensure that the needs of the community are heard.
The Trust has a strategic partnership with the University of Warwick. Two of the region’s best-performing institutions from the health and education sectors are working together to enhance medical education, teaching and research development. Thanks to strong relationships between researchers, clinicians, practitioners, and scientists, there is a shared ambition to offer long-term benefits to patients, clinical teams, students and partners within health and social care. The Trust also works closely with Technology Partners through our Digital Innovation Hub and with Coventry University undertaking research and training non-medical clinicians.
Click here to read the Memorandum of Understanding between SWFT and the University of Warwick.
In 2017, a ‘Foundation Group’ was created in partnership with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT). In 2018, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH) joined the Group.
The model has proven benefits for all the partner organisations, and has been highlighted as best practice within national NHS guidance. In light of its success, the Group recognised the potential to extend their learning, and opportunities for sharing best practice between other organisations facing similar challenges. To support this, the Foundation Group created an Associate Membership option and in 2021 Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) joined as an Associate Member. WAHT then became a full member in 2023.
All organisations in the Foundation Group face similar challenges and have a common strategic vision for how these can be solved. There are also numerous benefits for communities across Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, including the provision of a wider platform to share best practice and improving whole system patient pathways.
The trusts share a Chief Executive, Glen Burley and Chairman, Russell Hardy. However, the model retains the identity of each individual organisation, whilst strengthening the opportunities available to secure a sustainable future for local health services.
SWFT Clinical Services Ltd is an established 100% wholly owned subsidiary of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust was awarded Foundation Trust status in 2010, and became one of the first in the country to set up a limited company as a business subsidiary. Since then, many other Foundation Trusts have gone on to set up similar businesses, utilising a model that is now well established. To learn more about SWFT Clinical Services Ltd visit: https://swftclinicalservices.co.uk
Innovate Healthcare Services (IHS) is a wholly owned subsidiary of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and is jointly controlled by SWFT and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH). The company became operational in December 2021 and provides ICT, Information Governance and Access to Health Records services to both SWFT and GEH, as well as primary care in Warwickshire.
