Dr Christian Hosker

Role: Medical Director

What I do

As Medical Director I am a member of the Board, but also a practising clinician. I am able to provide a clinical voice into the organisation while also advocating for patients at Board level, with a focus on improving the quality and the value of care we deliver.

I have a role in contributing to the shape our strategic vision and the culture within which that is delivered and in ensuring that we communicate clearly to, and engage with, our frontline staff.

As an executive member of the Board, I share responsibility with other executive directors for decisions made about the organisation and its services.

Beyond the Trust, I also work alongside peers to help build future local health and care systems by harnessing the leadership of clinicians and partners across health and social care organisations.

How I contribute to improving the experience of service users and carers

I work closely with Nichola Sanderson, our Director of Nursing and Professions, and Joanna Forster Adams, our Chief Operating Officer, to oversee the quality improvement, regulation and delivery of our services and shape these to best meet future needs. Improving the quality of our clinical services in way that reflects the LYPFT STEEEP (safe, timely, efficient, equitable, effective and patient centred) quality framework is a key part of my role.

My experience

I studied medicine at Nottingham University and qualified in 2000 before moving to Leeds in 2001 to commence specialist training in psychiatry. During my psychiatric training I worked in a range of services across the region, also training briefly in a Crisis Service in Melbourne, Australia. While training I became a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatry, completed a Masters in Clinical Psychiatry and gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Law.

I commenced my first consultant post in 2008, which was in the Leeds Liaison Psychiatry Service and developed a special interest in palliative care psychiatry, multi-disciplinary approaches to persistent physical symptoms and the psychological aspects of live liver transplantation. I worked closely with the British Psycho-Oncology Society and have been the Academic Secretary for the Regional Division of the Royal College of Psychiatry.

In addition to my clinical interests, I have also developed a particular interest in clinical leadership and the conditions for organisational improvement. I have held a variety of leadership positions within the Trust, including Associate Medical Director for Mental Health Legislation, Clinical Lead for Liaison Psychiatry and Lead Psychiatrist. I was also supported to enhance my own leadership experience through the NHS Leadership Academy where I completed the Shadow Board and Aspiring Medical Director Programmes as well as a Masters in Health Care Leadership. The latter culminated in a research dissertation on psychological safety in LYPFT.

I am also the Clinical Chair for the Mental Health Transformation Board in Leeds and lead the Perinatal Mental Health Provider Collaborative across Yorkshire and Humber.

Get in touch

You can contact me by emailing christian.hosker@nhs.net.