06.03.19
Foundation trust names replacement for fired chief executive
A foundation trust has appointed a new chief executive after it sacked its former leader following a disciplinary meeting in September last year.
Yvonne Ormston MBE will join Gateshead Health NHS FT from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) where she has been the chief executive for the last four years.
Ormston brings more than 30 years of experience in the NHS and has worked at the Gateshead trust previously as the director of strategy between 2005 and 2014.
She commented: “I am absolutely delighted to be returning to the trust as its chief executive and consider it a great privilege.
“I am keen to further support the staff in the great care that they provide and together with patients and other stakeholders explore how we can continue to further improve and develop services.”
Ormston replaces Ian Renwick who was sacked as chief executive of the trust following a disciplinary meeting convened by the trust’s chair but the reasons for the dismissal are not known.
Renwick departed the trust after spending 12 years at its helm, leaving the deputy chief executive and director of finance John Maddison as the acting chief executive.
The trust’s chairman Julia Hickey said: “I am delighted to welcome Yvonne back to the trust – she was our executive director of strategy and compliance from 2005 to 2014 – and I know she brings a passion for patient care and staff wellbeing, which are integral to our trust values.”
“I believe Yvonne’s experience makes her ideally placed to lead the trust and work with our partners across the region to deliver high quality care to local people.”
Gateshead Health was one of the first foundation trusts established in the country and has achieved strong results but NEAS was forced to raise its operational level last year as its response to potentially life-threatening calls had deteriorated due to “unprecedented” demand.