EMAbout Edel
I help NHS trusts, systems, and healthcare organisations stabilise performance, strengthen governance, and deliver sustainable operational and financial improvement.
With recent executive experience as a Chief Operating Officer across complex NHS and independent healthcare environments, I bring a pragmatic, board-level perspective grounded in delivery. I work closely with Chairs, CEOs, COOs, CFOs, and clinical leaders to diagnose issues quickly, create clarity where there is complexity, and convert strategy into measurable results.
What differentiates me is my ability to operate credibly across boardrooms and frontline services, combining commercial acumen with deep understanding of NHS operating models, regulation, and commissioning. I am frequently engaged to support turnaround, performance recovery, service redesign, and system-level change, particularly where organisations are under pressure or transitioning at pace.
Typical engagements include executive advisory roles, operational diagnostics, recovery and improvement programmes, governance and assurance frameworks, KPI and performance dashboards, workforce and cost-improvement programmes, and support with commissioner and stakeholder engagement.
I am known for being outcomes-focused, trusted, and effective in delivering grip, momentum, and confidence at senior level.
English
Native or bilingual
Can work on-site
London (up to 50km)
Experience
- Hospital Services, Inmind GroupInterim Chief Operating OfficerHEALTH AND WELLNESSOctober 2024 - October 2025 (1 year)London, United KingdomI held executive responsibility for a national portfolio of 12 mental health hospitals, delivering acute services, PICU, HDU, rehabilitation, specialist female personality disorder (including low secure), complex care, residential, and acquired brain injury services.I was accountable for an £80m operational budget and oversight of 1,200 staff, providing Board-level assurance on operational performance, regulatory compliance, quality, and risk.I led and contributed to £2.4m of recurrent efficiency savings through workforce redesign, cost control, and operational improvement programmes. I supported commercial and commissioning negotiations, including preferential NHS spot purchase rates and the conversion of a £1.1m acute block contract, strengthening financial sustainability.I supported the creation of Hospital Services as a formal division, advising on governance frameworks that clarified accountability and strengthened communication from Board to frontline. I standardised core operational processes across sites, improving quality, consistency, and assurance at scale.I led implementation of a digital referral management system, improving access, flow, and executive oversight. I developed a divisional strategy underpinned by measurable KPIs and designed a monthly performance dashboard used at Senior Leadership level to monitor delivery and risk.I advised on and delivered structured financial efficiency and Capex programmes, improving infrastructure resilience and service quality. I redesigned the risk management framework, introducing robust local and corporate risk registers with clear escalation routes.Working closely with the Deputy CEO, I co-designed and implemented an executive accountability and recovery framework for distressed hospitals, providing targeted diagnostic insight, structured oversight, and hands-on support to stabilise performance and drive sustainable improvement.
- Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation TrustInterim Director of OperationsOctober 2022 - October 2024 (2 years)• • Deputised for the Chief Operating Officer.• • Operationally accountable for four Adult and Older Adult care groups across Norfolk and Suffolk counties, covering inpatient, community, and crisis pathways.• • Led on Access and Flow, management of out of area, OPEL escalation protocol and delivered MADE once weekly with system partners• • Led community mental health transformations with SNEE ICB and Norfolk and Waveney ICB.• • Supported Trust Efficiency and Value programme leading on community productivity and access and flow.• • Managed a budget of circa £70 million and workforce of 1,800 staff.• • Participated in system meetings, supporting strategic engagement and exit from NOF4 oversight.• • Directed CRHT and CMHT service reviews, redesign, and reconfiguration.• • Developed primary care mental health offerings and managed ADHD/ASD referral recovery plans.• • Defined innovative models of care and recovery plans for community services.• • Facilitated leadership development and accountability frameworks.• • Managed quality and safety agendas, including CQC compliance.• • Led the transition from CPA to Dialogue+.• • Participated in Director-on-call rota.
- Barnet Enfield & Haringey NHS TrustHead of Adult Community ServicesJanuary 2020 - October 2022 (2 years and 9 months)• • Senior Operational Manager for 27 service lines, managing quality, finance, workforce, and performance.• • Delivered Diabetes service improvement under CCG review including waiting list recovery post covid pandemic• • Analysed financial data, managing budgets and transformation projects.• • Led Cash Releasing Efficiency Savings initiatives.• • Represented Trust in ICS meetings, chaired Integrated Discharge System meetings.• • Directed divisional transformation, managing NHS strategic priorities notably ageing well, 2hr urgent community response, P2 bedded rehabilitation, support to A&Es, established a long covid service for borough.• • Led Health Inequality Project engaging voluntary sector partners.• • Improved operational performance and governance structures.• • Deputised for Managing Director in strategic meetings.• • Managed inpatient flow and winter pressures, ensuring patient safety via operational leadership of integrated discharge team located within the acute North Middlesex Hospital.• • Supported community services during COVID-19 pandemic.• • Participated in Trust on-call management rota.• • Certified FCA Flow Academy QI Coach.
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Education
- Bachelor of ScienceUniversity of Ulster2009Bachelor of Science
- Level 7 Patient Centred LeadershipUniversity of West London2014Level 7 Patient Centred Leadership