THE woman in charge of our hospitals in Brighton and West Sussex has been made a Dame in the New Year's Honours List.

Marianne Griffiths is the chief executive of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals.

She said: “I have the privilege to work with so many extraordinary and caring colleagues in the NHS and I am delighted to accept this honour in recognition of everything we achieve together for the people we serve.

“It is truly humbling to share a common purpose with more than 15,000 compassionate, dedicated and talented healthcare professionals at Western Sussex Hospitals and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals.

“Every day and night, they do their best for thousands of patients and any success attributed to me is due to their steadfast commitment to always improve the care and services we provide.

“Working for the NHS can be tough, but there is a generosity of spirit that binds us together and to be awarded this honour for doing my job is a wonderful tribute to all of my colleagues and their endless acts of kindness.”

Alan McCarthy, chairman of the board at Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals, said: “We are all delighted to hear that Marianne was made a Dame in the New Year’s Honours List.

"This is a well-deserved recognition of her dedication and service to the NHS and her contribution to improving the quality of patient care.

“I am sure Marianne would say that her success is built on teamwork and the fantastic commitment and support of colleagues in the Trust and those in the partner organisations we work with.”

Marianne is currently celebrating her tenth year as chief executive of Western Sussex Hospitals and often says that she has the best job in the world.

She has led the trust, which includes St Richard’s Hospital in Chichester, Worthing Hospital and Southlands in Shoreham-by-Sea, from its creation from a merger in 2009.

In 2016, Western Sussex Hospitals became the first multi-site trust to be rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission and that same year Marianne was named Chief Executive of the Year at the industry leading HSJ Awards (Health Service Journal).

In March 2018 she became the first woman to take the number one spot in the HSJ’s annual assessment of NHS trust chief executives.

In April 2017, Marianne also became chief executive of neighbouring Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust (BSUH) when, at the request of NHS Improvement, she and her fellow board entered into a three-year joint management contract to lead the teaching hospital and regional trauma centre, while continuing their tenure of Western Sussex Hospitals.

Over the past 18 months BSUH has exited from financial special measures and has invested in its facilities, staff and services to continue improving standards of patient care.

The trust’s Patient First strategy was also introduced.

This empowers front-line staff at all levels to make improvements themselves and gives them the skills, tools and support to make change happen, benefitting patients and staff.