Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust bosses go!

Date published: 09/02/2006

Steven Price, chairman of The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, has stood down from his post, and chief executive Chris Appleby has announced his intention to do so - they have both made statements explaining their decisions. The announcements follow critcisms of their management style in a report by Sir George Alberti and the review team sent in by the Strategic Health Authority.

Steven Price said: “This is a decision which I have been thinking about for some time. The Alberti report raised issues corporately, which I fully believe that the organisation will address. The action plan in response to that report is now with the strategic health authority.

“Having considered the issue, and the comments in the report, I believe that the best step is for me to stand down from the post of chair. The consultations on the future of our services have now begun, and the next stage of the trust’s development is fast coming on us, so now is an appropriate time for me to make this announcement. It will be for a future chairperson to help lead the trust to that future stage.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my role as chairman, and naturally I am extremely sad to be leaving. I often spoke about the achievements of our staff, and how they put patients at the centre of all of their work – I know that this will continue to be the case.”

Chris Appleby, chief executive, said: “My intention has been to see the Trust through the consultations on its future, after which I will be looking to move on. I hope that, through this, people will not lose sight of the Trust’s considerable achievements in delivering healthcare to 800,000 residents, reducing waiting lists and setting out a strong vision for the future.”

On hearing the news local MP Paul Rowen said:

"The two of them should have gone three months ago when Albertini's scathing report was released.  They have failed the residents of Rochdale and beyond.  No matter how much spin they put on this, it is clear that the NHS is about people and not just targets.  

"The two current consultation exercises on the future shape of the NHS  across Greater Manchester are vital and the sooner a replacement team is in place the better."

Cllr Jean Ashworth, an employee of the Trust for nearly thirty years said: "as an employee of the trust I feel this has caused a great deal of concern and unrest, the feeling from the staff I have spoken to today was one of added fears for the future of the Infirmary.

"The general opinion is that they should have been made to go three months ago when the vote of no confidence was first cast.

"My personal opinion as a councillor is that they need to deal with this quickly and put an independent person, not related to the  PCT or Trust body, in place ASAP to give reasurrance to the staff."