Challenged trust appoints former nurse as chief executive

Mark Cubbon will take over at Portsmouth Hospitals Trust on Monday, more than a year since the departure of previous chief executive Ursula Ward.

Mr Cubbon qualified as a nurse and later moved into general and senior management roles in the NHS.

Most recently, he was regional chief operating officer for the Midlands and East at NHS Improvement.

Ms Ward resigned shortly before the publication of a Care Quality Commission report that rated the trust’s accident and emergency department as inadequate.

Although the trust’s A&E is now rated requires improvement, its performance is among the worst in England.

This spring, it had the highest number of 12 hour breaches – known as trolley waits – of any trust: 191 in March, April, and May.

Earlier this year, the CQC issued enforcement notices on the A&E amid concerns about overcrowding and staffing levels in the acute medical unit.

Several board level positions, including medical director and chief operating officer, are currently filled by interims.

Mr Cubbon said: “The trust has some very significant challenges. As part of my recruitment I met with many members of the team and I was struck by their passion and professionalism.

“I am looking forward to working together to improve the services we provide. This will require strong partnership working with our colleagues in social care and other NHS organisations too.”

Mark Nellthorp, interim chair of the trust, said: “Mark brings a strong commitment to patient focused care, informed by a wealth of clinical and leadership experience.”