28.02.18
Under-fire trust chair resigns amid ‘serious leadership, governance and cultural problems’
The chair of Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS FT announced that he would be stepping down this week following heavy criticism from NHS Improvement (NHSI).
Michael Carr’s position has been under threat for some time now, with NHSI pushing for Sir David Henshaw to take over the role after claiming there were “a number of serious leadership, governance and cultural problems which need to be urgently addressed.”
Investigators began an independent inquiry into practices at the trust in January following allegations of severe cultural problems, including sexual misconduct.
Ian Dalton, NHSI chief executive, welcomed Carr’s decision to step down, in a damning indictment of Wirral’s ongoing problems.
“Today’s news about Michael Carr’s departure is the right thing for patients and the right thing for staff,” he commented. “This is a trust that has had a number of serious leadership, governance and cultural problems which need to be urgently addressed.
“I’m delighted to be able to announce that our intention is for Sir David Henshaw to join David Jago, who has been the acting chief executive since December 2017. Together they will start the process of turning around the trust and making sure it has a strong, permanent leadership team in place to ensure the changes the trust needs are made and are long-lasting.”
Henshaw is currently chair of Alder Hey Children’s FT, but is soon expected to take up the position in Wirral on an interim basis.
Announcing his resignation, Carr thanked “excellent board members, governors and staff” for their work during his tenure, and wished the organisation every success in future after claiming “it is now time for a new leadership team.”
He has been at the trust since 2008, taking up the role of chair in 2010 after previously working as a non-executive director.
Top image: Dominic Lipinski and PA Wire
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