Trustee Spotlight - Professor Joe Harrison

In the final of our series of trustee spotlights, we caught up with Professor Joe Harrison to find out more about the Vice-Chair of our Employers Policy Board.

Tell us a little bit about yourself

Hello, my name is Joe and I am chief executive of Milton Keynes University Hospital, an organisation I have been proud to lead for the last decade. I am married to Samantha, who is currently the Downing Street interim permanent secretary and chief operating officer, and I have 13-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.

I’ve worked in the acute health sector in a number of different roles and organisations for almost 35 years. My first job was as a medical records clerk and over that time I have worked for some brilliant leaders who have helped me progress and develop. I took up my first chief executive role in 2011 and have been CEO at MKUH since 2013.

Why did you want to become a trustee of the NHS Confederation?

The NHS Confederation is unique in bringing together health and care services across different sectors and therefore the opportunity to effect meaningful change to benefit the people using those services is significant. There is so much we can do at scale and across organisations to improve care, to empower people in managing their own health, and to improve access to care.

The Confed also does tremendous work in convening networks to address inequalities affecting both health and care staff, and health inequalities affecting the people we serve. Again, the opportunity to bring organisations together to tackle systemic discrimination and inequality is huge and it is really exciting to be part of that.

What excites you the most about the direction of the NHS Confederation, and how will you contribute towards it?

I bring a lot of experience, a lot of learning from where things have worked really well in effecting change in healthcare, and even more from when they haven’t! I also bring real enthusiasm for supporting the health and wellbeing of health and care staff, and in the use of technology to improve care, experience and access to healthcare for patients.

What is your proudest achievement?

My children! They are two wonderful people – in the way of teenagers, they are a daily challenge as well as a daily delight – and I am indescribably proud of them both in all they are and all they do.?

How would you fill an unexpected day off?

With emails – I find it far too hard to switch off! More seriously, an unexpected day spent with family and friends, good food and a glass of wine or two is absolutely perfect.

If you would like to find out more about Professor Joe Harrison and the rest of our board of trustees, please check out the 'Our People' section on our website.