Cygnet Health Care appoints director to its board

Stephen Firn, non-executive director, Cygnet Health Care

Cygnet Health Care has appointed Stephen Firn OBE as an independent non-executive director to its advisory board.

Firn has more than 20 years’ experience of NHS Trust boards in clinical, strategic and chief executive positions, including as CEO of Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.

He was also a programme director at NHS England and NHS Improvement, leading a national initiative to support provider collaboratives. He has held policy advisor roles at both the Department for Health and the Royal College of Nursing.

‘I want to use my experience to bring a new perspective around the ways Cygnet ensures quality in its services so that it is able to address any concerns and continuously seek improvements,’ Firn said.

‘One of the things we will learn from the pandemic is how we can use technology to exchange ideas, share information, hold consultations and interact. We can’t replace face-to-face contact so finding the right balance between online and digital therapies and what works best for service provision and patients will be key.’

Tony Romero, chief executive of Cygnet, said: ‘Cygnet is committed to providing safe and effective care in all our services and Stephen’s significant experience will help us continue to innovate, develop and enhance our provision, particularly as new demands are placed on mental health services nationally in the wake of the pandemic.’