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Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust Tracy Dowling has paid tribute to the dedication of staff ahead of her retirement.

Tracy is to leave her role on Friday (26 November) after four years as CEO with the Trust - which provides mental health and community physical services - and 38 years in the NHS.

She said: “It has been most extraordinary privilege to have led the Trust and to have worked for the National Health Service for so long.

“Every day I have been humbled by the dedication and commitment of our staff, and I will thoroughly miss the many friends I have made during my time at CPFT.

“The pandemic has had a huge effect on everyone’s lives and our staff have known many difficult days and until we are through this, there will be further challenges ahead.

“But I also know they will continue to support each other, and their combined resilience and strength will ensure they will continue to work tirelessly to meet the needs of patients, families and carers.”

Director of Finance Scott Haldane has agreed to be interim Chief Executive while the Trust concludes the recruitment process for Tracy’s successor. An appointment is expected to be confirmed shortly.

Chair Julie Spence said: “On behalf of the Board I would like to thank Tracy for her unwavering dedication to the Trust, our patients and staff. 

“She has been a phenomenal Chief Executive, and her vision, leadership and relentless determination has transformed services for people living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

“Tracy has successfully led CPFT through its greatest ever challenge – the worst pandemic in a century - while continuing to promote and support innovation and research, shining a light on CPFT’s work on a regional and national stage. “

Tracy started her NHS career as a radiographer before moving into operations and health service management, including 16 years at boardroom level. 

Since joining CPFT as Chief Executive in 2017, Tracy has been at the forefront of how services are delivered across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, championing the need for health, social care and third sector providers to work together to ensure patients receive the very best care.

During her time as Chief Executive, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated CPFT services as “good” during inspections in 2018 and 2019.

Tracy has also made the focus on equality, diversity and inclusion a top priority within the Trust, to ensure CPFT is a just, fair and equal place for everybody.

Tracy has been a champion and advocate for research, chairing the East of England Clinical Research Network and the Applied Research Collaboration. Under her leadership CPFT has become the second highest performing Trust for mental health research, and is consistently in the top five research Trusts in the East of England. In 2019 CPFT was commended by the Care Quality Commission as “outstanding” for its research activity. 

CPFT employs more than 4,000 staff who provide community physical healthcare for older people and those with long-term conditions, mental healthcare for children and adults, children’s health services in Peterborough, learning disability support and social care support.

ENDS

For more information contact:
Andy Burrows
Interim Head of Communications 
E andy.burrows@cpft.nhs.uk