The new joint CEO for Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust has written a letter to staff at Salisbury District Hospital. See the letter below.

It is an honour and a privilege to be starting today as Chief Executive Officer for SFT, RUH and GWH.  I am looking forward to working with new and old colleagues to blend fresh ideas with valuable experience to foster innovation as we develop the new acute group and seek to deliver ever better healthcare to our population

I want to explore a profound truth that resonates throughout our lives: the idea that no man is an island. This metaphor, from the pen of poet John Donne, reminds us that each of us is intrinsically connected to one another, shaped by our relationships, experiences, and the communities we live in.  That together we are stronger than we are alone. 

The same is true in healthcare as it is for each of us as people.

READ MORE: Cara Charles-Barks named as joint NHS trusts chief executive

In our fast-paced, modern world, it can be easy to believe that we’re alone. We can prioritise self-sufficiency, viewing independence as a virtue, that being strong but alone is the way forward.

But while it’s important for there to be strength and a sense of pride within an organisation, we must also recognise that true potential to innovate is unlocked through connection, by working with others. Excellence is usually achieved through collaboration and with support. This is true in healthcare as it is anywhere.

'Excellence is usually achieved through collaboration and with support''Excellence is usually achieved through collaboration and with support' (Image: Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust)

Some of the remarkable advancements in healthcare—from ground breaking research to innovative treatments, are not the result of solitary efforts.

They emerge from collaborative teams, diverse in expertise and background, working together towards a common goal: to heal and to improve lives. This interconnectedness is the bedrock of progress. As we share ideas, challenge each other, and support one another, we foster an environment where innovation thrives and the art of the possible is realised.  When we work and learn together we can improve together.

Today the NHS stands at yet another crossroads, and it is a time for renewal.  For 75 years the NHS has survived by pulling together, by adapting to changes and by focussing on the needs of the communities we serve.

As three hospitals we now have the opportunity to learn together, to tackle inequalities in access to services, to work together to remove barriers to good health and provide improved health outcomes for all our communities. 

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Today a person living in Devizes can be offered the same treatment in Bath, Swindon or Salisbury yet their experience and outcomes may vary.  But by working and learning together we can reduce those differences. 

For example, if we share waiting lists across the three hospitals we can find ways to prioritise those most in need of treatment.  Our shared Electronic Patient Records will allow ever closer working and greater understanding with better data helping us target resources. 

Cara is the joint CEO of Salisbury NHS Foundation TrustCara is the joint CEO of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust (Image: Spencer Mulholland Photography)

A new approach to community healthcare will enable patients to be treated closer to home, avoid hospital admissions and shorten stays.  Shared training and development will enable services to improve together, driving innovation and delivering higher quality care.

However, we must be intentional as we build these connections, they do not happen by accident, it needs deliberate actions and design. It calls for vulnerability, openness, and a willingness to engage with others.

In a society that can at times emphasise individualism, we must make a conscious effort to reach out, to listen, and to support one another. We must create spaces where we cheer each other on, where everyone feels valued and heard, fostering a culture of collaboration and mutual respect.

I believe that by working, learning and improving together we can embrace the idea that no one is an island. By nurturing our relationships across the three hospitals and recognising the value of collaboration, we can create the conditions for each one of us to shine.

Cara Charles-Barks

Chief Executive

Salisbury Foundation Trust, Great Western Hospitals Foundation Trust and Royal United Hospitals Foundation Trust