Special measures trust chief steps down

It comes as system leaders grapple with how to prop up Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn Foundation Trust over winter.

Trust chief Jon Green has taken up a “secondment post” at neighbouring Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals FT, with medical director Nick Lyons appointed acting chief while a search goes on for a permanent successor.

Mr Green was appointed chief in February 2017. He replaced Dorothy Hosein who is now interim chief of East of England Ambulance Service Trust.

The trust, placed it back in special measures in September, and system leaders are expecting the Norfolk health economy sits in to be a “major problem” over winter.

The hospital’s leadership also sparked controversy last month when it floated plans to send its cancer patients to a Norwich hospital 40 miles away for elective procedures in a bid to address its staffing and capacity problems.

King’s Lynn’s new chair, Steve Barnett, said in a statement: “The project [which Mr Green has been seconded to] will be looking at how closer integration of services can ensure financial and clinical sustainability, while at the same time bringing about service changes which improve care for our patients.

“I’m sure that his experience as both chief executive and chief operating officer will be very relevant and valuable to this project.”

He added: “I am sure you will join me in wishing Jon well. I am continuing to try and meet with as many staff as possible over the coming weeks so should you have any questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to ask me, as I make my way round the hospital.”

The Care Quality Commission’s decision to rate the trust inadequate in September prompted chair Edward Libbey to step down. He said in his resignation statement the trust needed “a change in board leadership [and] significant cultural change”.

The £182m turnover trust was first placed into special measures in October 2013, but was taken out in summer 2015 after the CQC upgraded its rating from inadequate to requires improvement following an inspection.

The trust said it “fully accepted” the CQC’s latest findings, which rated it inadequate in the safe and well-led categories, requires improvement for effectiveness and good for caring.