St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Dr Richard Jennings as its new Chief Medical Officer.

Dr Jennings will join St George’s from Whittington Health NHS Trust, where he has been Executive Medical Director since June 2014.

As a practising physician, Dr Jennings specialised in infection and acute medicine, and underwent his training at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Before becoming Executive Medical Director at the Whittington, he held the posts of Clinical Director for medicine and then Deputy Medical Director.

Dr Jennings said: “I am delighted to be joining St George’s, and this is a really exciting opportunity.

“Like everyone connected with the organisation, I want St George’s to be the best it can possibly be. I know that it has the most fantastic and caring staff and services, providing some truly outstanding and world-class care.

“I am looking forward to meeting my new colleagues, and the many different staff – both clinical and non-clinical, in the hospital and the community – who care for the people that St George’s serves every day.”

Jacqueline Totterdell, Chief Executive, said: “Richard is a fantastic appointment for the organisation, and will play a crucial role in our improvement journey at the Trust. I was impressed by his ambition, as well as his desire to be part of what we are trying to achieve here at St George’s.

“We have already moved from Inadequate to Requires Improvement, but St George’s is better than that, and I know our staff and patients want us to provide outstanding care day in, day out, and that remains our aim.”