After 30 years of continuous board-level NHS service, the chief executive of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has announced his retirement.
David Carter has led the Trust since the merger of Bedford and Luton & Dunstable hospitals in 2020 and previously served as Chief Executive of Luton and Dunstable University Hospital.
His tenure has included the successful merger of the two hospitals, major redevelopment programmes across both sites, and leading the organisation through the COVID19 pandemic, which he described as the most challenging time of his career.
He will officially retire in May 2026, and the Trust will shortly begin the process of appointing a new Chief Executive.
Richard Sumray, Chair of Bedfordshire Hospitals, said: “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank David for his outstanding leadership and commitment to Bedfordshire Hospitals as he transitions to a well-deserved retirement.
“The role of Chief Executive in a hospital trust is a very tough one with huge responsibilities. David has carried them out with dedication, determination and real success.
“He has lived our values through the best and most difficult of times, and first and foremost has always put what is right for the Trust and its patients at the forefront of any decisions that have been made.”
Speaking about his tenure at the Trust, David said: “It has been an enormous privilege to lead Bedfordshire Hospitals and work with such dedicated and compassionate colleagues, who do their very best for patients every day.
“By next May, I will have served as Chief Executive of the merged Trust for six years and as Chief Executive of the Luton & Dunstable University Hospital for nine.
“It will also mark nearly 30 years of continuous service as a board-level director within the NHS. It feels like the right moment – for me, and for the organisation – to step back.
“I remain incredibly proud of what we have achieved across Bedfordshire. The merger was not without its challenges, but I firmly believe it has strengthened the local health system and provided a more resilient foundation for patients and staff.
“I am also proud of the redevelopment work we have undertaken that includes the building of the acute services block and energy centre at Luton, the extensions to both emergency departments as well as creating a community diagnostic centre on the Bedford North Wing site.
“Without doubt, the most challenging period was leading the organisation through the pandemic. Yet it was also, in many ways, the most inspiring. Witnessing, daily, the extraordinary resilience, compassion and teamwork across the NHS and our wider system.
“Those experiences will stay with me long after I leave.”
