SECAmb and SCAS appoint new group chief executive to provide ‘clear, inclusive leadership’

Simon Ashton has been appointed as the first Group Chief Executive for the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) and South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS). He is scheduled to take up the role in the autumn of 2026

Key Details of the Appointment

• Role and Vision: Ashton will lead the emerging "Ambulance Group" model, providing "clear, inclusive leadership" across both trusts. He will work alongside the recently appointed Group Chair, Colin Dennis.
• Experience: He brings nearly 30 years of NHS experience, including over a decade in executive roles. Ashton
   is a clinically trained physiotherapist and currently serves as the Chief Executive of Newham University Hospital (part of Barts Health NHS Trust).
• Current Leadership: Until Ashtonbegins his tenure, Jen Allan serves as the Interim CEO of SECAmb following the departure of Simon Weldon on 17 April 2026. 

   

The Ambulance Group Model

The two trusts began joining forces in October 2025 to create England’s first ambulance group model. This partnership aims to: 

• Share expertise and resources while maintaining each trust's local identity and accountability.
• Enhance digital innovation and workforce planning.
• Improve patient outcomes and service resilience across Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Buckinghamshire.