NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group appoint Group Chief Medical Officer

NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group (UHL Group) has appointed Dr Andy Nicolson as Group Chief Medical Officer.

Currently Medical Director at The Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Andy has played a key role in providing senior clinical leadership, strengthening quality and safety, and supporting service improvement and transformation. He brings extensive experience of medical leadership at both organisational and system level, alongside a strong commitment to patient-centred care, clinical excellence and collaborative working across NHS partners. 

In addition to his executive leadership experience, Andy is a Consultant Neurologist with a specialism in epilepsy. He has a well‑established background in clinical practice, education and research, and is recognised for his focus on developing clinical teams, supporting innovation, and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.

The appointment follows the recent announcement that Dr Jim Gardner will step down from his role as Group Chief Medical Officer at the end of March. Andy will formally commence the role on a full-time basis later this year.

Speaking about his appointment, Andy said: “It is an exciting time to be joining UHL Group, and I am delighted to have been appointed. Having worked closely with clinicians across the Group over the years, and more recently through partnership working with other providers across the region, this is a great opportunity for me to help evolve our clinical services for the future even further. I look forward to commencing in the role to help the Group deliver the best care possible to our patients.”

James Sumner, Group Chief Executive of NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Andy, who brings a wealth of experience from his time as Medical Director at The Walton Centre, and his wider career. Having already worked closely with colleagues across UHL Group as part of our clinical strategy development work, Andy will bring the benefit of long-standing relationships with key partners in health services across the region, and this will be valuable as we further develop our services and long-term strategy for the benefit of patients in our communities.”