Eric joined Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust as Chairman on 1 May 2017.
An Accountant by background, Eric’s career began in local authority settings before he joined the NHS in 1987 as Senior Assistant Regional Treasurer at Trent Regional Health Authority.
Two years later he moved to a provider setting and his first director level post at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield where he was Director of Finance and part of the executive team taking the hospital through to trust status.
In 1990 he returned to a health authority (HA), this time North Derbyshire HA which was severely challenged and facing a significant financial deficit. He led the financial turnaround and restored financial balance before moving to Chesterfield Royal Hospital in early 1993 to take up the post of Director of Finance and Corporate Services and Deputy Chief Executive. Eric held this post for eight years.
He was appointed Chief Executive in 2002, a position he then held for 10 years. As Chief Executive he successfully took the Trust to foundation trust (FT) status in 2005, led a substantial change management programme that included reforming the cost base and consistently delivered on national performance targets.
During his time at Chesterfield, Eric undertook a number of Chief Executive secondment roles to assist challenged providers including United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Mid Staffordshire Hospitals NHSFT.
Since stepping down from Chesterfield Royal in 2012 Eric has spent periods as Interim Chief Executive at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHSFT and Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS FT whilst substantive appointments were made. He then became an Improvement Director for Monitor in 2013 which has seen him provide support and act as a regulator presence in challenged foundation trusts that have been placed in special measures.
He spent periods of time working with Burton Hospitals NHS FT, Tameside Hospitals NHS FT, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS FT and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS FT. He also spent four months as an Advisor to the board of East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust.