'Bullying culture' trust chief exec quits

Mark Davies announced today he would be leaving the top job at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals FT.

The trust was placed in special measures in June 2018, with the Care Quality Commission citing a “deterioration in how the trust was being run” and a “bullying culture”.

Mr Davies has led the organisation since August 2015, taking the permanent job in November

In a statement given to ITV News, Mr Davies said: “Our trust chairman, John Fry, will shortly be completing his second term as chairman and the governors have already started the process of recruiting a new chair.

“Given the fact that the trust chief executive is answerable to the chair of the trust board I have always felt they should be free to appoint his or her own CEO.

“I have therefore, decided to leave the trust in the autumn. By announcing that I propose to leave the trust in the autumn I can ensure there is enough time to recruit the new chair and time for… him/her to recruit a new CEO.”

Mr Davies had previously been an interim chief executive with a rate of £2,000 a day and chief executive of Imperial college Healthcare Trust in London.

In a further statement, he said: “I would also like to take this opportunity to express my profound thanks to, and admiration for, all of our tremendous staff at the trust. They are truly remarkable people.”

Mr Davies added: “It is almost 40 years since I joined the NHS as a graduate trainee. I have been the chief executive of no fewer than eight NHS trusts and I have worked with the most caring and compassionate people imaginable. I remain as certain today as I was 40 years ago that the NHS is a great national institution. In many respects it is the jewel in our national crown. I will to continue to make a contribution in the months and years to come as we begin the all important process of delivering the new NHS long-term plan.”