NHS Wales chief takes top job at East Midlands trust

David Sissling will step down from his current role in March to become chief executive of the East Midlands trust.

Mr Sissling, who is also director general for health and social services, joined the Welsh government in May 2011 following a long career in the health service.

He will bring with him experience as a former chief executive of the Leicester Royal Infirmary Trust as well as time spent leading the Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland Strategic Health Authority.

Between 2006 and 2008 he worked at Stormont as chief executive of the Northern Ireland Health and Social Care Authority before joining the Healthcare for London team in February 2008.

Mr Sissling said: “This has been a very difficult decision for me and not without mixed feelings. There is never a perfect time to leave any role, particularly in the health service which faces continual challenge and change.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved in Wales over the last three years with the introduction of new legislation, much-needed service change and an increasing focus on the safety and quality of care we provide to patients.”

Lorene Read, the Kettering trust’s previous chief executive, resigned last August following serious problems with the hospital’s accident and emergency performance.

Mr Sissling leaves the Welsh NHS at a time when it is under increasing scrutiny following calls by the Royal College of Surgeons for an urgent review of all Welsh hospitals. The RCS has cited “public anxiety” over standards of NHS care.