Boss of troubled Berkshire trust quits

Monitor said in August it was concerned that persistent failure to meet the accident and emergency target could signal wider governance problems at the trust.

Royal Berkshire was significantly behind target on its accident and emergency target in the early autumn, before winter pressures had taken hold more widely in the NHS. It recorded six 12-hour “trolley waits” in a single week in September, and was also performing significantly below the four hour waiting times standard.

Earlier this year Royal Berkshire had to write off £18m on its electronic patient record contract. The trust had procured the Cerner Millennium system independently of the national programme for IT, which offered the same product at a subsidised rate.

In November trust board papers revealed that Royal Berkshire had “suspended” two contracts with Cerner, worth £6.5m combined. HSJ understands that a financial settlement between the two parties is being negotiated, but the cost to Royal Berkshire has not been revealed.

Mr Donald survived an attempt by the trust’s former chair Colin Maclean and non executive directors to oust him two years ago. He went on “indefinite leave” in late 2011, but returned in early 2012 after winning the backing of the trust’s consultants and other local clinicians. Mr Maclean then left the trust.

Announcing his resignation, Mr Donald described the Royal Berkshire as “a good foundation trust, with great staff and local support.”

“For now, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family over the festive period before starting a new work venture in the new year.”

A trust statement added that the Royal Berkshire is “strategically well placed to become a major emergency centre”. At the same time local services in Reading, Newbury, Henley and Bracknell are proving to be more popular than ever with patients and GPs.

Medical director Alistair Flowerdew will take over as acting chief executive until a permanent replacement is appointed.