CEO of major acute trust steps down after contracting covid

Tracy Taylor has led Nottingham University Hospitals Trust since 2018, and in a message to staff today announced her resignation from the trust with immediate effect.

In the message, seen by HSJ, Ms Taylor said she had been unwell with covid-19 since early July and was unlikely to be well enough to return to work for “some months to come”.

She added: “In light of this I have made the very difficult decision to step down from my role as chief executive in order to focus on my recovery and getting well again… I know you are all going through a difficult time at the moment and I am sorry I am not able to be there to lead the organisation.”

In the same message trust chair Eric Morton confirmed deputy chief executive Rupert Egginton would continue as acting CEO while they search for a permanent replacement.

Ms Taylor’s departure comes during a particularly challenging time for the trust.

Last month, NUH was downgraded from “good” to “requires improvement” by the Care Quality Commission and given “intensive mandated support” from NHS England, the successor to the special measures regime, in relation to issues around culture and leadership.

Earlier in the summer, the CQC also said unless the trust improved its urgent and emergency services it would issue a formal warning notice.

According to other internal messages seen by HSJ, the trust has today declared an ‘Opel 4’ alert due to “extreme pressure”, with some patients experiencing “unacceptably long waits”.

‘Opel 4’ replaced what was known as a ‘black alert’ and is when an acute trust is struggling and unable to provide comprehensive care.

“There is very limited bed capacity on either site,” said head of site operations Gina Policelli in the internal message. “We are under extreme pressure this morning with 143 patients in our emergency department, 32 of those awaiting beds.”

The trust has also had to limit its chemotherapy service recently, due to staff sickness and vacancies.