Professor Sir Patrick Vernon OBE FRHistS

A trust group CEO currently working as NHS England’s deputy chief executive has been awarded a knighthood in this year’s King’s birthday honours, for services to the NHS.

Glen Burley, also chief executive officer of the Foundation Group comprising of four trusts running acute and community services, is one of several NHS leaders to receive honours.

He has been on secondment to a national role at NHS England since April 2025, initially as financial reset and accountability director and then as deputy CEO. Sir Glen started his NHS career as a finance trainee before moving into finance director roles, and taking on his first CEO role at South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust in 2008.

The Foundation Group was set up as a partnership in 2017, initially just between South Warwickshire FT and Wye Valley Trust – one of the first of a joint-leadership model that has now spread widely. George Eliot Hospital Trust joined the group in 2018, followed by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust in 2023.

Also knighted was Patrick Vernon, who was chair of Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board until October last year, for services to racial equality.

He led the national campaign to establish Windrush Day and was the first non-executive director for inequalities to be appointed in the country when he first joined the ICB.

By Caitlin Tilley