AFTER almost five years at the helm of St George’s Hospital Charity, Amerjit Chohan will be leaving the charity in mid-June.
Since assuming leadership in October 2018, Amerjit has steered the charity through the challenges of the pandemic and UK lockdowns and launched its first capital appeal – the £5m Time for a Change children’s appeal.
Anna Walker, Chair of the Charity’s Board of Trustees said:
“Amerjit has made a significant difference to the charity, its impact and its profile both within St George’s University Hospital’s NHS Foundation Trust and the wider community. He has professionalised its operation, building up its grant-giving, arts and fundraising activities.
“Amerjit played a key role during Covid in increasing fundraising from £2m to £4m, providing support to both patients and staff. He spearheaded this by remaining on-site every single day, supervising programmes for patients and staff. These included the distribution of iPads for seriously ill patients to keep in touch with their loved ones and 12,000 individual care packages to support the hospital’s dedicated staff. He also supervised the provision of over 50,000 hot meals, delivered to wards and departments, to sustain and uplift the spirits of frontline workers during critical periods.
“Amerjit also led the launch of the charity’s first major fundraising appeal – Time for a Change children’s appeal, which aims to expand the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and transform the children’s wards into bright and welcoming spaces and create better facilities for staff and parents. Amerjit’s commitment to the charity and real improvements for patients and staff has been huge. He leaves the Charity a more mature organisation with a real record of impact and visible improvements.”
Reflecting on his tenure, Amerjit said:
“It’s thanks to my incredible team, trustees and colleagues at St George’s that I’ve had five amazing years at the charity. It has been the highlight of my career but, there is still much more that I want to do and I’m keen to explore new challenges. But, first up, I’m taking a break. Like many people working in the NHS, I’ve not managed to have a proper holiday since before the pandemic and I’m really looking forward to spending the school summer holidays with my young family.
“My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made my time at St George’s such a pleasure from Group CEO Jacqueline Totterdell, Managing Director Kate Slemeck and brilliant staff to our wonderful supporters and volunteers. I’d also like to thank our incredible clinical colleagues and all the patients who I have had the honour to meet. I know the good work of the charity will continue and I will remain a supporter for life.”
Anna Walker added:
“The Trustees and the Senior Leadership Team of the Charity have arrangements in place for the interim period following Amerjit’s departure and will embark on securing his successor over the summer. The Senior Leadership Team, supported by the Trustees, remains focussed on delivering and achieving the charity’s goals, particularly the Children’s Appeal.”
Jacqueline Totterdell, Group Chief Executive Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals and St George’s University (GESH) Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said:
“Amerjit leaving is a huge loss for team St George’s. Under his leadership, the Charity has gone from strength to strength and raised more than £11m to improve the lives of our patients and staff.
“Amerjit has been an incredible ambassador for St George’s in our local communities, and I want to thank him for his relentless hard work. I’m sad to say goodbye but know that the difference he has made will be felt for years to come.”
As Amerjit Chohan embarks on new challenges, St George’s Hospital Charity will continue its important work with a renewed commitment to improving healthcare outcomes and advancing patient care.