Matthew Bryant Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer, Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital

Matthew joined the trusts in March 2023 and took up the substantive role in April 2023.

Matthew previously worked for Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where he was Chief Operating Officer for hospital services.

He led the Somerset health and care system boards for planned and unplanned care, and previously led surgical and medical services at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS FT, as well as redesigning care for frail older people. Over a 25-year career in the NHS he has worked with hospital, community and mental health services, and helped to establish the Peninsula Medical School in the south west.

He is passionate about empowering NHS staff and working in partnership across organisations to improve health outcomes for local people.  Matthew is also Senior Independent Trustee at Hospiscare, the palliative care provider based in Exeter.

Shared leadership arrangements

The Boards of Dorset HealthCare and Dorset County Hospital agreed in September 2022 to appoint a joint chief executive and joint chair to help improve the delivery of care to local communities by simplifying decision-making, increasing integration and improving quality.

The shared leadership approach will focus on:

• prevention of ill health
• tackling health inequalities
• better integration between physical and mental health
• joined-up workforce planning and development.