Professor Alistair Chesser will continue at the trust in a clinical capacity after he steps down from his role as chief medical officer in March

Inset: Professor Alistair Chesser, Credit: Barts Health NHS Trust, (Main) inkdrop via Canva

Barts Health NHS Trust has announced that Professor Alistair Chesser will step down from his role as chief medical officer in March 2025.

After nine years of service, Chesser will continue at the trust in a clinical capacity. His departure follows the resignation of Jacqui Smith, the former chair of Barts Health, who stepped down in July 2024 after being appointed to a government role.

A chief medical officer is a licensed doctor who is responsible for overseeing daily clinical operations and ensuring it is of a high-quality.

Since his appointment in 2016, Chesser was responsible for improving the trust’s Care Quality Commission (CQC) ratings, and in raising standards of clinical care across the trust’s sites.

In a statement announcing Chesser’s decision to step down, Barts Health said he was also “crucial” in guiding the trust through the Covid-19 crisis.

Recently, Chesser also managed the challenges of industrial action within the NHS and Barts Health specifically. This included action from formerly outsourced porters and cleaners working at the trust who in June won a months-long dispute over a lump-sum Covid payment they did not receive.

During the pandemic, the staff had worked for Serco, before transferring back into the NHS just after the imposed deadline for NHS staff to receive the “thank you” payment, worth around £1,600.

On 26th June, the workers, represented by Unite, accepted a deal from Barts that will see them receive additional “special leave”. The leave is reportedly to the equivalent value of the lump-sum payment.

Chesser commented on his tenure: “It has been an honor to work with such dedicated doctors, nurses, AHPs, and other staff. I have always respected the commitment and skills of my colleagues throughout Barts Health. It has been a privilege to lead, and I am grateful for the support from the team and the care we provide to our patients.”

Shane DeGaris, Barts chief executive, praised Chesser’s contributions, saying: “Alistair has led our medical teams with integrity and compassion, always focusing on patient safety and needs. We thank him for his dedication and commitment to our people and patients.”

Barts says that the search for a new chief medical officer will “begin soon”.

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