Jo Williams, Group Chief Executive, acknowledges the challenges faced by colleagues and says the trust has started to transform itself over the past 14 months.

Staff were engaged in setting objectives and in celebrating achievements. A focus on excellence has help lift the trust from the bottom of the league table for 18-week referral-to-treatment performance to the top quartile. It is one of the most improved in the country.  The trust also reached record highs for the 28-day cancer Faster Diagnosis Standard, moving into the upper half of performers nationwide.

The next goals are to meet constitutional standards and clear the 52-week wait target.