Mr Paul McArdle Deputy Medical Director

About me

Paul is a GenerationQ Fellow, and Deputy Medical Director for Quality at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

Paul has been practising as a Consultant Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Derriford Hospital since 2001 and was appointed Director for Quality Improvement at Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust in 2013. He is responsible for helping to develop and implement the trust’s quality strategy and quality standards, as well as running the clinical effectiveness team.

His previous leadership roles at the trust include three years as Clinical Director for Head and Neck Services, chairing the theatre safety group and three years as Foundation Programme Director.

Paul qualified in dentistry at the University of Manchester in 1985 and in medicine at the University of Bristol in 1994. He holds fellowships from the Royal College of Surgeons in dental and general surgery, and was awarded the gold medal for the intercollegiate fellowship in oral and maxillofacial surgery in 2001. Paul completed a postgraduate certificate in health care management in 2002.

Going into GenerationQ, Paul is looking forward to being able to study leadership and improvement theory at the same time as applying what he learns to his day to day work. 'My main challenge is how to embed quality improvement across the hospital trust. Having the support of the GenerationQ coaches and my peers on the programme will be hugely valuable – it'll be great to share my ideas and get feedback on how I'm approaching different situations.'

Paul is particularly keen to explore the relational aspects of leading complex change and to become a more focused and resilient leader. 'I know that strong leadership is absolutely pivotal to achieving quality improvement, so I want to develop my own skills and be the most effective leader I can be.'

During his fellowship, Paul will be working on a project to introduce quality portfolios across the organisation. 'Each service line will have its own quality portfolio containing data about the quality of care being achieved and information to help clinical teams set priorities and plan improvement work. Rather than telling people what they need to do and how to do it, we'll be giving them information to make these decisions for themselves, alongside the skills needed to drive quality improvement.

'My vision is for everyone in the organisation to really understand what quality improvement means and for it to become a routine part of each employee's everyday practice. Taking small steps will enable us to make a big difference in the long term.'