Martin Barkley

Martin joined the NHS as a trainee hospital administrator in 1972. In 1983, he brought into use the “new” East Surrey Hospital, which he administered along with Redhill General Hospital. When general management was introduced into the NHS he became the Unit General Manager of services for people who have a learning disability in 1986, and additionally two years later services for people who have mental ill health. The priority was to establish a comprehensive range of community based services to enable 3 out-dated institutions to close. The service became an NHS Trust in 1994 and he became its Chief Executive. The following year he was appointed Chief Executive of a similar but larger NHS Trust in Nottingham. In 2001, he became the Chief Executive of a brand new mental health and learning disability NHS Trust in Hampshire, establishing it from scratch, and doubling in size in his 7 years at the Trust.

Martin then moved north on becoming Chief Executive of Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, which at the time became the largest Trust of its type in England serving a population of 2 million people. In 2016, Martin returned to the acute hospital and community sector on his appointment as Chief Executive of Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust from which he retired in 2021.

During his career, Martin has acquired extensive experience of being a member of a Board, governance, service modernisation, systemic approach to continuous quality improvement, and organisational development. In addition to his NHS trust responsibilities he has undertaken several roles at regional and national level.