Clive Thompson CBE has been reappointed by the Appointments Commission as Chairman of the Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Trust for a further year until 31st March 2008.   Mr Thompson has been Chairman at the Trust since March 2002.

Said Trust Chief Executive, Glenn Douglas: “I welcome the re-appointment of Clive as Chairman for the Trust.  Clive is committed to the future of Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals and it is good to know that he remains with us for what will be a very important year for the Trust.”

Mr Thompson, a management consultant since he left the chemicals industry in 1995, was a non-executive director ofFrimley Park Hospital NHS Trust from 1995 until March 2002.   He spent most of his career with BP Chemicals in South Wales and London becoming a director in 1983 with responsibilities for manufacturing, personnel and worldwide petrochemicals business.   From 1990 to 1995, he was Vice-President, Operations and Supply, of ARCO Chemical Europe.

Between 1991 and 1997 he was a member of the Audit Commission and was its Deputy Chairman from 1995 to 1997. He was appointed CBE in 1998.   He is married with two grown-up sons and lives in Lightwater.

Commenting on his re-appointment Mr Thompson said: “I am very pleased that the Appointments Commission haveagreed to re-appointment me for a further year.   With all the changes currently taking place in the NHS and more locally in Surrey with the forthcoming consultation on health services I hope that my re-appointment will bring some stability to the Trust.

“My past four years at the Trust has seen the organisation make great progress from a zero rated to three star Trust in 2005 and last year we received a good rating for our clinical services from the Healthcare Commission.   We have reorganised our services and made them more responsive to the needs of local people.  Our state of the art emergency facilities at St. Peter’s are complimented with a modern NHS Walk-in Centre at Ashford.  More and more women are choosing our maternity services to help them with their birth backed up by our well respected Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“I am very positive about the future for Ashford and St. Peter’s hospitals and proud of everyone who works there.  I look forward to working closely with them as we plan for the future of healthcare in north west Surrey.”

The appointment has been made in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.  All non-executive appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees political activity (if any declared) to be made public.  Mr Thompson does not hold any other ministerial appointments and is not politically active.  The post of Chairman carries a remuneration of £21,882 a year.