Head of Elective Access | Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust; Walsall; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the UK is seeking a dynamic Head of Elective Access to drive performance improvement and innovation in elective and cancer services. This pivotal role involves managing multidisciplinary teams, overseeing RTT and cancer targets, and leading transformation projects to enhance patient pathways. The ideal candidate will have extensive NHS management experience and a Master's degree or equivalent professional experience, making a substantial impact on patient care in Walsall.

Qualifications

• In-depth knowledge of elective care and cancer standards.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills to influence at all levels.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Drive delivery of RTT and cancer targets across the Trust.
• Lead transformation projects improving outpatient productivity.
• Oversee demand and capacity modelling and digital booking systems.
• Manage budgets and lead multidisciplinary teams to achieve goals.

Skills

Senior NHS management experience

Knowledge of elective care and cancer standards

Analytical and negotiation skills

Communication skills

Ability to deliver results under pressure

Education

Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience

Job description

Are you ready to lead transformational change in elective care and cancer services? Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is seeking an exceptional, dynamic senior leader to join us as Head of Elective Access, driving performance improvement and innovation across our elective and cancer pathways.

Why join us

We are proud to deliver excellent patient access performance in cancer, ranking in the upper decline nationally for both Cancer and RTT. With the shortest waiting times in the West Midlands for incomplete RTT, this is a pivotal opportunity to make a measurable impact on patient care and experience. You’ll be at the heart of shaping strategy, delivering NHS constitutional standards, and ensuring sustainable improvement.

About the role

Reporting to the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, you will act as the Trust’s subject matter expert for elective access, leading the Outpatient and Access departments and overseeing the Cancer Services team. Your remit will include:

• Driving delivery of RTT and cancer targets across the Trust.
• Leading transformation projects to improve outpatient productivity and patient pathways.
• Representing the Trust at regional and national forums (e.g. GIRFT, ICB Elective Board, Access Networks).
• Overseeing demand and capacity modelling, digital booking systems, and performance improvement plans.
• Managing budgets and leading multidisciplinary teams to achieve efficiency and quality goals.

What we’re looking for

• Proven senior NHS management experience with in-depth knowledge of elective care and cancer standards.
• Expertise in performance, financial and staff management, and service redesign.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and communication skills to influence at all levels.
• A flexible, resilient leader who thrives under pressure and can deliver results in a complex environment.
• Master’s degree or equivalent professional experience.

About Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital and a wide range of services in the community. The Trust’s £170 million development, completed in 2010, delivers state‑of‑the‑art critical care and neonatal facilities. A new Urgent Emergency Care Centre opened in March 2023 further enhances emergency care capacity.

This advert closes on Sunday 4 Jan 2026