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01  Voice · Clinician · A&E & ambulance response

Clinician

Dr Helen Skinner

Chief Medical Officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT)

Press coverage by month · bar height shows relative volume
Dec 2025Jan 2026FebMarAprMayJuneJulyAugSeptOctNovto date
Also cited

Quoted in the press on 3 topics since 27 Nov 2025

Where their coverage sitsTop 20–50%

Voices are sorted into four fixed groups by how much press coverage they have had across all topics, from the top 5% down to the lower half. The lit step is Dr Helen Skinner’s group.

LANCASTER
OfficeUniversity Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT), Lancaster, LA1 4RPUniversity Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) is based in Lancaster and Wyre: the organisation’s base, not a personal address.

02  Quoted on · 3 of 29 topics

Open the topic

Dr Helen Skinner: key facts

Kind of voice
Clinician
Role
Chief Medical Officer
Organisation
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT)
Organisation based in
Lancaster and Wyre
Quoted on
A&E & ambulance response, Maternity & neonatal, Palliative & end of life care
Press coverage
Also cited
Most recently quoted
23 Oct 2026
First quoted
27 Nov 2025

03  Profile

Who Dr Helen Skinner is

Dr Helen Skinner is Chief Medical Officer of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT). She joined the trust in August 2025 from North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, where she was Medical Director for Operational Delivery and a Stroke Consultant.

She also holds a national role as Clinical Advisor for Geriatric Medicine with the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme. Earlier roles include Chief Medical Officer for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board, more than five years in Christchurch, New Zealand (including Chief Medical Officer for Canterbury District Health Board), and Professor of Dementia Research at Stirling University. In UK press coverage she has explained the trust's decision to close the intensive care unit at Furness General Hospital because it could not recruit enough senior doctors.

She has also spoken on end-of-life care and cancer patient experience, and has urged the public to use NHS services appropriately over busy periods. She has also set out a vision for the trust as a research-active organisation.

Notable achievements

  1. 01

    Appointed Chief Medical Officer of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (announced 16 April 2025; joined 4 August 2025) Source ↗

  2. 02

    Holds a national role as Clinical Advisor for Geriatric Medicine with the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme Source ↗

  3. 03

    Previously Chief Medical Officer for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board and for Canterbury District Health Board (New Zealand) Source ↗

  4. 04

    Previously worked as Professor of Dementia Research in the Dementia Centre at Stirling University Source ↗

04  The signal · where Dr Helen Skinner sits on a&e & ambulance response

Regularly cited

One of the voices most often quoted in the press on a&e & ambulance response.

Placed by press coverage on this topic only, not across all topics.

  1. Dr Ian Higginson portraitDr Ian HigginsonClinicianPresident, Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)Leading
  2. Prof Nicola Ranger portraitProf Nicola RangerUnionGeneral Secretary and Chief Executive, Royal College of NursingLeading
  3. Prof Frankie Swords portraitProf Frankie SwordsRegulatorNational Medical Director, NHS England / Department of Health and Social CareLeading
  4. Professor Tim BriggsClinicianNational Director for Clinical Improvement and Elective Recovery; Chair, GIRFT ProgrammeRegularly cited
  5. Prof Julian RedheadClinicianTrust-level Chief Executive; National Clinical Director for Urgent and Emergency Care, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust / NHS EnglandRegularly cited
  6. Dr Helen Skinner portraitDr Helen SkinnerClinicianChief Medical Officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT)Regularly cited
  7. Alun JonesSector leaderChief Executive of Healthcare Inspectorate WalesRegularly cited
  8. Kevin SargenSector leaderMedical Director for Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation TrustRegularly cited

Showing the leading voices and those placed around Dr Helen Skinner · See every voice on the topic →

05  On the record · press

What Dr Helen Skinner has said

By outlet · bar length shows relative volume
  • lancasterguardian.co.uk
  • nwemail.co.uk
  • thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk
  • bbc.co.uk
  • bbc.com

Where Dr Helen Skinner has been quoted

  1. Extra staff and longer opening hours for same day emergency care among winter plans for Lancaster hospitallancasterguardian.co.uk · 23 Oct 2026
  2. Eight extra beds to open at Furness General Hospital this winternwemail.co.uk · 22 Oct 2026
  3. New tool helps patients and carers see how well Morecambe Bay hospitals provide care at the end of lifelancasterguardian.co.uk · 30 Sept 2026
  4. Maternity services at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary officially exit national special measuresbeyond.radio · 22 Sept 2026
  5. Morecambe Bay NHS trust leaves maternity support programme after improvementsnwemail.co.uk · 21 Sept 2026
  6. Morecambe Bay NHS trust leaves maternity support programme after improvementsthewestmorlandgazette.co.uk · 21 Sept 2026
  7. How does your hospital rank in NHS corridor care crisis? Full list of worst-hit trusts revealed | The Independentindependent.co.uk · 12 Jun 2026
  8. NHS warns of busy emergency services - and how you can stay safe this Easterthewestmorlandgazette.co.uk · 4 Apr 2026
  9. Kendal man told to wait eight hours in stretched A&E or go homebbc.com · 27 Nov 2025
  10. Man told to wait eight hours in A&E or go homebbc.co.uk · 27 Nov 2025
How we found the articles that name Dr Helen Skinner: we searched news for these terms, by topic. Terms for 3 topics

A&E & ambulance response

  • A&E waiting times
  • A&E department
  • accident and emergency
  • ambulance response times
  • ambulance handover
  • ambulance waiting
  • ambulance service
  • emergency department

Also searched with “A&E waiting times” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for A&E & ambulance response

Maternity & neonatal

  • maternity
  • maternity services
  • maternity care
  • neonatal
  • stillbirth
  • maternal mortality
  • midwifery
  • midwife

Also searched with “maternity” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Maternity & neonatal

Palliative & end of life care

  • palliative care
  • end of life care
  • hospice
  • terminal illness

Also searched with “palliative care” in each of 8 national papers, and in the Guardian by editor tag, and in trade press by category. Every term for Palliative & end of life care

Verbatim

“These extra beds will help improve patient flow, enhance patient safety and support emergency department performance during periods of high demand.”
Chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust · A&E & ambulance response · lancasterguardian.co.uk · 23 Oct 2026 · Read the article
“These extra beds will help improve patient flow, enhance patient safety and support emergency department performance during periods of high demand.”
Dr, chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust · A&E & ambulance response · nwemail.co.uk · 22 Oct 2026 · Read the article
“Providing high-quality care at the end of life is one of the most important responsibilities we have as healthcare professionals.”
Dr, Chief Medical Officer, UHMBT · Palliative & end of life care · lancasterguardian.co.uk · 30 Sept 2026 · Read the article
“This transition to routine regional oversight reflects the significant progress that has been achieved through strong collaborative working across maternity, neonatal, obstetric and corporate teams.”
Chief Medical Officer at UHMBT · Maternity & neonatal · beyond.radio · 22 Sept 2026 · Read the article
“Our clinicians are working more closely together than ever before to ensure women and babies receive safe and effective care.”
chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust · Maternity & neonatal · nwemail.co.uk · 21 Sept 2026 · Read the article
“Our clinicians are working more closely together than ever before to ensure women and babies receive safe and effective care.”
chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust · Maternity & neonatal · thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk · 21 Sept 2026 · Read the article
“Reducing corridor care is a key priority for UHMBT and our staff work hard every day to take all possible actions to address this issue.”
Chief Medical Officer, UHMBT · A&E & ambulance response · independent.co.uk · 12 Jun 2026 · Read the article
“By making sure you have the medicines you need, using services like NHS 111 for non-urgent concerns, and only attending A&E in an emergency, you can help us focus care where it's needed most.”
Chief medical officer, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust · A&E & ambulance response · thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk · 4 Apr 2026 · Read the article
“We recognise the significant pressures on our services and understand that we are not always able to see patients as quickly as we would like.”
chief medical officer for the UHMBT · A&E & ambulance response · bbc.com · 27 Nov 2025 · Read the article
“We recognise the significant pressures on our services and understand that we are not always able to see patients as quickly as we would like.”
chief medical officer for the UHMBT · A&E & ambulance response · bbc.co.uk · 27 Nov 2025 · Read the article

Related media coverage

Recent UK press coverage of their topics, not necessarily citing them directly.

06  Sources

References for this biography

  1. The Trust Board :: University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. Current title, career background, GIRFT advisor role, and previous CMO roles
  2. Dr Helen Skinner appointed as new Chief Medical Officer at UHMBT. Appointment announced 16 April 2025, start date 4 August 2025, and continuing clinical work
  3. New chief medical officer appointed at Morecambe Bay hospitals trust (Lancaster Guardian). Press coverage of her appointment and previous roles in Cornwall and Canterbury
  4. Trust offered £30k bonus to recruit staff for ICU facing closure. Her quoted position on the Furness General Hospital ICU closure and recruitment difficulties
  5. 5 November 2025 Board of Directors meeting update. Her research and development update to the trust board
  6. New tool helps patients and carers see how well Morecambe Bay hospitals provide care at the end of life. Quoted on end-of-life care (NACEL audit)
  7. UHMBT cancer patients rate care 9.1 out of 10 in National Cancer Patient Experience Survey. Quoted on cancer patient experience survey results
  8. Plan ahead this Easter and choose services appropriately. Quoted urging the public to use NHS services appropriately over Easter
  9. Royal Lancaster Infirmary :: UHMBT. Royal Lancaster Infirmary address, Ashton Road, Lancaster LA1 4RP. Third-party directories (ZoomInfo, Hospital of the Future) list this as the trust's headquarters or address.

07  Contact & links

Staff page
uhmb.nhs.uk/our-trust/meet-the-team
Website
uhmb.nhs.ukpublished here ↗

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.

Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other registered clinicians quoted in a clinical capacity. Citations are counted by an automated scan of UK press coverage and may be incomplete. Roles, biographies and contact details are researched and human-reviewed before they appear here; anything not yet reviewed is simply absent rather than shown unverified. This profile was last updated on 13 Nov 2026. See the methodology for how this page is built, or email contact@bridgeheadcommunications.com to correct anything on it.