New Chief Medical Officer appointed to NSFT | News and events

Following a national, extensive and robust recruitment process, Dr Faisil Sethi has been appointed as the substantive Chief Medical Officer for Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Sethi joins the Trusts Executive Leadership Team at an incredibly important time, bringing significant senior and board level medical leadership to our Trust. As part of our plans to further strengthen our executive leadership team, Dr Sethi will also take up the additional responsibility of joint Deputy Chief Executive, working closely with Cath Byford, our Chief People Officer and Deputy Chief Executive.

Dr Sethi is currently Chief Medical Officer at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust, rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, which provides both mental health services and many physical and community-based health and care services. He is a multi-professional clinical leader, with a wide portfolio of experience in leadership roles over the past 10 years, including executive leadership, system leadership and operations. 

Dr Sethi is also the executive lead for health inequalities at Dorset HealthCare, and has been heavily involved within the Dorset Integrated Care System to give county-wide, partnership focus to this important area of work. This invaluable experience will benefit our Trust and wider Integrated Care Systems of Norfolk and Suffolk enormously.

Caroline Donovan, Chief Executive Officer, Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I am incredibly pleased that Dr Sethi will join NSFT later this year. He impressed the interview panel with his extensive leadership, commitment to partnership working and significant focus on health inequalities to improve health outcomes for our service users, their families and carers.

“This role is a vital appointment which will help drive forward many of the improvements we need to see in the months and years ahead within our Trust, working with our service users, families, carers and staff to help create safer, kinder and better services that local communities in Norfolk and Suffolk can be proud of.”

Dr Faisil Sethi said: “It is both an honour and privilege to be joining Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust at such an important stage of its improvement and transformation journey. 

“While a lot of progress has clearly been made in the last 12 months, there is much more to be done. I look forward to working with service users, families and carers, as well as staff across Norfolk and Suffolk, to bring about further, lasting improvements in the care we provide and help build a better organisation to serve local communities in the years ahead.”

Zoë Billingham, Chair of Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our Trust is on a significant and important journey of improvement and transformation and I am delighted that Dr Sethi will be joining us later this year. I look forward to working closely with Dr Sethi as we continue to work together to improve the outcomes and experiences of our service users, families and carers, as well as support our staff across Norfolk and Suffolk.”

Dr Sethi will take up his new role in September 2024.