Whistleblower named chief executive at scandal hit hospital trust

Janelle Holmes, the trust’s former chief operating officer for two years, was one of the four executives to whistleblow to NHS Improvement in November last year, raising serious allegations about the trust’s former chief executive David Allison and former chair Michael Carr.

Mr Allison resigned from the trust with immediate effect in December and Mr Carr stepped down earlier this year after an independent inquiry by NHS Improvement found “deep systemic cultural issues” at the trust.

In a message to staff today interim chair Sir David Henshaw confirmed Janelle Holmes had been accepted by the trust’s council of governors yesterday to become the new chief executive.

In a statement Sir David said: ”Janelle has been chief operating officer here at the trust for the past two years and in my short time as your interim chair I have witnessed a very strong vision and drive of foundation building taking place behind the scenes at what remains a truly challenging time for the trust.

“The passion and commitment from Janelle to transform Wirral hospitals for the better certainly shone through to the interview panel which consisted of a very experienced and successful CEO as well as an external assessor from regulator NHS Improvement.

“Janelle does not shy away from the fact that her short time with us has been testing, but her drive for improvement will be hugely important for us all in the months and years ahead.”

Ms Holmes is a registered nurse and prior to joining Wirral hospital spent 12 years at Salford Royal Foundation Trust.

She will take on the role from Monday with interim chief executive David Jago, who also whistleblew to NHS Improvement, returning to his post as finance director.