Morecambe Bay appoints special measures 'improvement board' chair

Glenys Marriott will chair the “improvement board” which will be responsible for reviewing the programme of work to improve care at the North West trust.

Morecambe Bay was put in special measures in June following the publication of a critical Care Quality Commission inspection report.

John Hutton, interim chair of the trust, said: “Achieving a rating of ‘good’ next time around has to be our minimum aim.

“Glenys brings with her a wealth of valuable experience and I look forward to working with her and the improvement board so that our hospitals can become the very best they can be for our patients and staff.”

Ms Marriott was chair of the South Tees Hospitals board until 2008 and has occupied a number of executive health roles in the North West. She is chair of Headway South Cumbria and the founder chair of the Cumbria Neurological Alliance.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Marriott said: “I am very pleased to have been appointed and look forward to working with the trust over the next year to achieve the standards required by the regulators.

She added: “I must give credit to the trust for establishing the improvement board. The trust was not required to do this but they felt that it was important that governors, partners and patient representative groups such as Healthwatch were fully included in developing the plans.

“Whilst ultimate responsibility rests with the trust board for the delivery of the plan we will be doing everything we can to ensure the improvements are sustainable.”