New chair announced for North West London Acute Provider Group

Dame Alwen Williams has been appointed as the new chair of the North West London Acute Provider Group, serving as chair in common for all four trusts in the Group: Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. Dame Alwen will take up the role on 1 November 2026.

The Group was formally established on 1 April 2026, building on the previous collaborative arrangement in place since 2022. It is another step towards more joined-up working, enabling us to make the best use of our combined resources and expertise for the benefit of patients, local communities and staff.

Dame Alwen brings more than 40 years of NHS leadership experience, including 20 years in chief executive roles. She served as group chief executive of Barts Health NHS Trust from 2015 to 2022, leading the organisation through a period of major transformation and improvement. Most recently, she has worked as a strategic adviser supporting NHS organisations on group models, organisational transformation and governance.

She succeeds Bob Alexander OBE, who has been interim chair of the Group since 1 April 2026 and will continue in post until 31 October 2026. Matthew Swindells served the first four-year term as chair in common following the establishment of the role in 2022.

Ian Peters, London Regional Chair for NHS England, said: “I am delighted to welcome Dame Alwen to the role of Chair of the North West London Acute Provider Group. She brings an extraordinary depth of experience, having spent several decades working across the NHS in London, including leading one of the country’s largest and most complex trusts through a remarkable transformation.

“Dame Alwen’s track record speaks for itself—she has consistently demonstrated the strategic vision and commitment to patients, staff and wider stakeholders that this role demands. The North West London Acute Provider Group has a real opportunity to make the most of the combined expertise and resources available across north west London’s health partners and I very much look forward to working with her again as she leads the board in that work.”

Professor Tim Orchard became the first Group chief executive—and the first single accountable officer for all four trusts—on 1 April 2026. He said: “I am delighted to welcome Dame Alwen as our new chair. She brings a wealth of experience from an exceptional career in the NHS, including a strong track record of leading large, complex organisations. Her understanding of and commitment to partnership working and compassionate leadership will be hugely important as we continue our journey as a Group at a time of significant change.

“I would also like to thank Bob for guiding the Group through a key period in its development—his vast knowledge of the NHS and commitment to our organisations have been invaluable.”

Commenting on her appointment, Dame Alwen said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to the chair role at this formative time in the development of the North West London Acute Provider Group, building on the impressive progress that has already been achieved.

“The Group has an exciting vision to deliver high-quality, equitable healthcare and improve population health in north west London by relentlessly focusing on innovation, collaboration and partnership working.

“I look forward to working with Tim, the board and colleagues across our four trusts to build on the strong foundations already in place and continue improving care for patients and communities.

“I’m particularly looking forward to getting to know the Group’s 33,000 staff and volunteers, whose expertise and dedication make such a difference every day, as well as our partners and local communities, who are vital to our future success.”

About the North West London Acute Provider Group

In April 2026, the four acute NHS trusts in north west London formally came together as a Group. The Group strengthens collaborative decision-making and helps us make the most effective use of our collective resources to provide better care, for more people, more equitably.

Between us, we run 12 hospitals, employ 33,000 staff and serve a local population of around 2.2 million. The four trusts remain independent organisations, working closely with their local authorities, patient groups and other partners. Each has created a committee of its board directors, who come together to form a board in common.