The chief executive of Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP), Sheena Cumiskey, has announced she will be retiring from the role next May after 25 years as an NHS chief executive and 38 years working in the NHS.
Her career has spanned all aspects of provision and commissioning – making a significant contribution to championing mental health issues, including being the chief executive lead for mental health on the advisory group for the NHS Long Term Plan.
As chair of the NHS North West Leadership Academy, Sheena has also supported the next generation of NHS leaders.
Sheena comments, “It has been a great privilege to be chief executive of CWP for the past 12 years and to have had the opportunity to serve in a wide variety of NHS roles throughout my career. I am 60 in May next year and I feel the time is right to hand on the baton to a new generation of talented leaders. It has been a difficult decision because of the wonderful people I have had the pleasure to work with at CWP – and within the Cheshire and Wirral and wider North West community.
“I am looking forward to the next six months before I retire as there is much to do during this period to help support our wonderful staff at a very testing time for the NHS and social care – and also in the midst of considerable change to the way the NHS is organised. I’m lucky to have worked with some great people by my side at CWP and I know they will continue to strive for the very best for the population we serve.”
Mike Maier, CWP chair, comments, “Sheena epitomises what it means to be a public servant. Her outstanding career has spanned all aspects of provision and commissioning – making a significant contribution to championing mental health issues. Under Sheena’s leadership, CWP has gone from strength to strength and is the only North West mental health and community trust rated as ‘Outstanding for Caring’ by the Care Quality Commission.
“Sheena is seen universally as an arch collaborator, aiming to drive forward the priorities in the NHS Long Term Plan to better meet people’s needs. On behalf of everyone at CWP we want to say an enormous thank you to Sheena for all that she has done for the people of Cheshire and Wirral and beyond.”
Sheena Cumiskey has been chief executive of CWP since 2010 and recently returned from an interim role supporting system working at the Cheshire and Merseyside Health and Care Partnership.
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