Trust CEO steps down after almost two decades

East Cheshire Trust’s John Wilbraham has been on planned sickness leave since November, and has now officially departed. The trust said he wanted to focus on recovering his health.

His finance director, Ged Murphy, has been acting as interim since November and will continue to do so while the trust determines its next steps.

Many of East Cheshire’s services, which are predominantly run from Macclesfield District General Hospital, have long been deemed to be clinically and financially unsustainable.

As HSJ revealed previously, the trust has recently begun an integration programme with Stockport FT, which is led by Karen James, who also runs Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care FT.

The trust would not directly address questions about whether a shared leadership model with the Stockport and Tameside trusts would now be considered, but said the current interim arrangements with Mr Murphy “will remain in place for the immediate future”.

Mr Wilbraham joined East Cheshire as finance director in 2002, before becoming CEO the following year. The trust achieved a “good” rating from the Care Quality Commission in 2015, and maintained this in its most recent inspection report published in 2019. It is also rated “good” for leadership.

The trust said in a statement: “Having had time to reflect, John has taken the decision to leave his role as chief executive to focus on his continued recovery. 

“After 20 years with the trust,19 years as chief executive officer, John leaves with heartfelt thanks for his years of dedication and commitment to the patients and staff of East Cheshire Trust.

“The trust board would like to put on record its thanks for all John’s years of service and all at East Cheshire Trust would like to wish him the very best for his future health and happiness.”