A regional Clinical Leader, with more than 25 years of experience in the medical profession, has been appointed as the new Medical Director for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust.

Professor Kiran Patel, 49, will take over the position at UHCW from Professor Meghana Pandit, who moved to Oxford University Hospital earlier this year. Professor Patel is the current Medical Director for NHS England and Improvement (West Midlands) and a cardiologist at University Hospital Birmingham. He will take up his new role at UHCW on 1 July 2019. 

Professor Patel is Honorary Chair at Warwick Medical School and has been part of NHS Top Leaders for NHS Leadership Academy.  In his past he has held leadership roles in both commissioning and providing organisations including Good Hope Hospital (2013), Worcester (2017), and West Mercia PCT Cluster (2011-13).  He is a cardiologist by specialty and has a specialist interest in health inequality, population health and global health.

Professor Patel said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time working as NHS England Medical Director in the West Midlands for the last six years.

“I am excited and delighted to take up this role at UHCW. The Trust has a strong reputation for clinical excellence and is a brilliant environment for teaching and nurturing the talent of the future. I hope to build on the excellent relationships in place with Warwick Medical School and Coventry University for creating the very best healthcare professionals we can.  I have been struck by the enormous improvement journey UHCW has been on across all patient services over the last five years. 

“Staff are enthusiastic and passionate about the services they provide and the changes they have been making.  I am looking forward to serving and supporting them as well as serving the patients and people of Coventry and Warwickshire and beyond with a world class patient experience.” 

Professor Andy Hardy, Chief Executive at UHCW, said: “We look forward to welcoming Professor Kiran Patel to our Trust. This is a key role within our leadership team, responsible for providing professional leadership for our medical staff. 

“I am very pleased that we have been able to appoint someone with Kiran’s experience to build on the work we have already done to make improvements at the Trust both now and for the future.  He has both breadth and depth of experience in different clinical roles across the NHS that will help support our delivery of the ten year plan for the NHS. We look forward to welcoming him to UHCW.”