Richard Kirby

A graduate of the NHS Management Training Scheme, Richard began his career supporting the development of GP commissioning in Birmingham. After a series of posts in commissioning, strategy and performance management, he moved to Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust where he led the development of new models of care and service configuration changes initially as director of strategy and, then,  as chief operating officer.

Richard’s first chief executive post was at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, an integrated provider of acute and community services. Walsall’s community services were rated “outstanding” in a CQC inspection in 2017.

After seven years in Walsall, Richard took up his current post as chief executive of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in March 2018. As one of the largest specialist community providers in the country, the trust is forging partnerships with primary care, mental health and social care to deliver outstanding integrated community services.   

Richard is vice-chair of the community network representing community providers nationally. He chairs the service leaders panel for the Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Rapid Evaluation Centre and is a fellow of the Sciana health leaders network.