‘Foluke Ajayi appointed vice-chair of the NHS Confederation
A leading NHS acute and community services trust chief executive has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the NHS Confederation in the role of vice-chair.
‘Foluke Ajayi is the chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and will start her role at the NHS Confederation in February 2025. The NHS Confederation is the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
During her career in the NHS, ‘Foluke has worked for provider, membership, regulatory and commissioning organisations in local and regional roles, as well as for national agencies.
As a member-led organisation, ‘Foluke will join other NHS leaders on the NHS Confederation’s Board of Trustees and will play a lead role in setting its strategic direction, monitoring its impact and upholding its values and governance.
‘Foluke will also support the NHS Confederation’s Acute Network, which provides a national voice for acute trusts, ambulance services and integrated providers. The network helps acute leaders influence national policy, share best practice and engage with other leaders across the wider health and social care system.
NHS Confederation chair Lord Victor Adebowale, said:
“We are delighted to welcome ‘Foluke onto our Board. She brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding of the NHS to the role and is one of the most progressive local leaders in the country. She’s an acute and community leader that plays an active role across her local system and understands that the solutions to the problems the NHS faces are to be found in effective working across neighbourhoods, places and systems.
“Foluke also has first-hand understanding of the impact that a lack of capital investment can have on local services. Her trust is part of the New Hospitals Programme and she will play a key role in helping my colleagues at the NHS Confederation to continue to make the case for more capital investment and a reformed capital regime – issues we have long advocated for.
“I’m really looking forward to working with ‘Foluke and welcoming her to our Board.”
‘Foluke said: “I’m excited to take on the role of vice-chair of the NHS Confederation. I believe strongly that it is through collaboration and co-operation across organisations, agencies and sectors that we can reduce health inequalities, create improvements in outcomes and population health, and achieve long-term, sustainable health provision. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge of working in complex systems to represent members, influence policy-makers and ultimately help to build a more resilient NHS”.
Further background
‘Foluke was previously Director of Strategic Transformation in the Humber Coast and Vale Health and Care Partnership for NHS England. She also worked as chief operating officer at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. ‘Foluke’s early career was as a clinical scientist in audiology, specialising in paediatrics and cochlear implants, following which she held senior roles in the Department of Health and NHS Employers.
About us
We are the membership organisation that brings together, supports and speaks for the whole healthcare system in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The members we represent employ 1.5 million staff, care for more than 1 million patients a day and control £150 billion of public expenditure. We promote collaboration and partnership working as the key to improving population health, delivering high-quality care and reducing health inequalities.
