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CEO awarded Honorary Fellowship in recognition of outstanding service to the NHS

Sarah Dugan receiving her Fellowship from Worcester University

Sarah Dugan, Chief Executive at the Trust has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Worcester in recognition of her outstanding service to the local NHS.

Sarah was appointed as our Chief Executive in 2011, overseeing the delivery of community health services across Worcestershire and mental health and learning disability services across the two counties. Prior to this role, Sarah held a wide range of senior roles within the NHS, including as Chief Executive of Dudley Primary Care Trust.

She has worked for the NHS for 40 years having been introduced to the NHS as a volunteer at Corbett Hospital in Stourbridge whilst studying for her A levels. She went on to complete her nurse training and has held a variety of clinical and managerial roles across the West Midlands since.

During her time as Chief Executive, the Trust has received a number of national awards and has been rated Good overall by the healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission and rated Good by Ofsted for Learning Disability replacement care services.

During her tenure, the Trust has developed a range of new community services to support more people at home alongside overseeing the introduction and expansion of a number of new mental health services including the new emotional well-being in schools programme. The trust is also currently progressing a £25million project to develop new modern mental health facilities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire which will offer improved environments for patients.

Sarah’s award is in recognition of her outstanding contribution during a long and distinguished career, and also for her leadership across the local health and care system. Sarah has also been a committed partner in the development of the University’s Three Counties Medical School and is a key advocate for training and developing a local healthcare workforce for the future.

In 2022 she was named in the Health Service Journal’s top 50 Chief Executives working in the NHS, but she says her achievements are down to the outstanding dedication of the 4,500 staff that she leads.

In response to her award, Sarah said, "I am honoured to receive the Honorary University Fellowship and to be admitted to the University’s College of Fellows and thank the University of Worcester not just for this Fellowship, but for all their support in helping us train and develop our future workforce.

"This achievement is a reflection of the outstanding contributions made by our 4,500 staff and students who do incredible, life-changing work in sometimes challenging circumstances.

"I am enormously proud of the care our staff provide, especially during what has been the most challenging period in many of our careers – the Covid-19 pandemic. Our staff are a credit to the NHS and I am proud to lead such a committed and dedicate group of people."

Mark Yates, Chair said: There is no better example of commitment to the NHS principles and ethos than Sarah. She leads by example in a hugely difficult environment and it is her personal values and compassionate leadership that often sets her apart - she is a huge credit to the NHS and Herefordshire and Worcestershire in particular.”

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