Baroness Blackstone is Chairman of the Trust Board at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), leading a team of five Non-Executive Directors.
Baroness Blackstone was appointed Chair of the Trust Board in 2009: “I have been a great admirer of GOSH over many years. I live quite locally and I had visited the hospital once or twice. I decided that I would like to get involved with the NHS and when Great Ormond Street Hospital came up I was extremely lucky to be appointed”.
Outside the hospital, Baroness Blackstone’s extensive professional background includes being a Labour life peer in the House of Lords, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Greenwich, Chairman at the British Library and a trustee of the Royal Opera House.
Defining the job
Baroness Blackstone explains what the role of Chair entails and how it differs from that of Chief Executive:
“The Chief Executive runs the hospital. She is responsible for day-to-day issues, for implementing the hospital strategy and for making sure that clinical care is of the highest possible quality.
“The Chair is responsible for working with senior management and the other Non-Executive Directors to define the strategy, making sure we’re clear about our aims and objectives and that we have the resources to implement them. Above all, we must be effective in looking after our patients, ensuring the child is first and always.”
Safety
Patient safety is always on the Board’s agenda and Baroness Blackstone, along with her fellow Non-Executive Directors, is focused on ensuring it is paramount at GOSH.
“There are three must-dos,” she explains. “Firstly, we have to make sure we are performing as we should. If we slip for one reason or another we need to investigate and find out what’s gone wrong, what lessons we can learn and how we can move forward and improve.
Secondly, we need to listen to parents and patients, making sure any complaints are properly considered.
And thirdly, we must strive to undertake high quality research which will lead to better
outcomes for our patients”.
Looking back
Reflecting on her highlights so far, Baroness Blackstone says: “Visiting wards, hearing about the progress children are making, talking to parents and realising we are responding to their needs – that’s what makes it all worthwhile. I think that has to be at the centre for any Chair at GOSH.”
