Fond farewell to Trust's Medical Director
13/09/2018
This article is more than five years old.
Dr Tony Berendt, who has been the Medical Director of Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2014, will be retiring from both the Trust and the NHS this Friday (14 September 2018).
In a personal message to all 12,500 OUH staff, Trust Chairman Dame Fiona Caldicott and Chief Executive Dr Bruno Holthof said: "We would like to take this opportunity to thank Tony for his outstanding service to the NHS in Oxford over many years since he joined the Bone Infection Unit at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre as a Consultant Physician in 1997. He has been a leader of the medical profession at OUH and beyond, for example running a regional annual conference on medical appraisals.
"And he has been an outstanding communicator - if you haven't read his thought-provoking article in the Oxford Mail about the changes which he has seen during his 35 years working in the NHS, and what the future may hold for the health service, we would heartily recommend it.
"We will be very sorry to say goodbye to Tony later this week but I am sure you will join with us in wishing him all the best for his retirement and his future plans."
Dr Berendt was Medical Director of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre NHS Trust from 2004 to 2011 before the NOC joined forces with the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust to form Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust.
As Deputy Medical Director of OUH from 2011 to 2014, he led on medical workforce appraisal and revalidation and he was also the medical lead of the staff flu vaccination programme for which he has continued to be a passionate advocate. He has championed the importance of staff having the flu jab to protect themselves, their families and patients.
Dr Berendt took up the role of Medical Director of OUH on an interim basis from April to September 2014, and he has held the post on a permanent basis since October 2014.
Speaking when he announced his retirement plans earlier this year, Dr Berendt said: "I have been hugely fortunate to work with fantastic clinical and managerial colleagues throughout my 35 years in the NHS. I will miss colleagues at every level in the organisation, from Board to ward, but have every confidence that with the wealth of leadership skills in my team and across the organisation, the Trust will go from strength to strength.
"As a resident of Oxford I have a vested interest in the success of OUH and will always do what I can to support the Trust in the future."
Interviews for the Trust's new Medical Director took place last week and we hope to be able to announce the successful applicant in the near future.