Trust accused of ‘combative leadership’ announces new chief exec

Tom Abell, currently deputy chief executive at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, will start in the new permanent role at the troubled trust this autumn.

The trust’s former chief executive, Dorothy Hosein, stepped down in January this year after being off sick since the previous autumn.

Tom Davis, who has been interim chief since September last year, will return to his previous roles of deputy chief executive and medical director once Mr Abell arrives.

The appointment follows the Care Quality Commission heavily criticising the trust and its leadership in September 2020. Inspectors said they found a “combative and defensive approach” from some leaders, resulting in staff and patients being left unprotected from sexual abuse, inappropriate behaviour and harassment. The trust remains in special measures for quality and rated as requires improvement.

Last month the trust signed a landmark legal agreement with the Equality and Human Right Commission setting out how it would protect staff from sexual harassment. The agreement followed the CQC referring the trust to the EHRC over potential breaches of the Equality Act 2010.

The CQC said it found at least 10 incidents in 2019-20 involving allegations of sexual assault, harassment or inappropriate behaviours, and 13 instances of staff, including those working for subcontractors, being referred to the police for sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour.

Mr Abell has been the deputy leader of the MSE trust since 2015 and before that has held senior roles in commissioning, community and mental health organisations.

Mr Abell has experience of dealing with contentious matters, having been deputy chief executive of Southend Hospital University FT, when it was at the centre of the ‘Care B’n’B’ controversy in 2017.

The Essex hospital trust had worked with a company to develop “proof of concept” for private homeowners with no care experience to be paid up to £1,000 a month to “host” patients after they were discharged from hospital. The trust pulled out of the deal just days afterHSJ exclusively revealed the plans. 

EEAST chair Nicola Scrivings said: “Tom brings significant experience in the NHS and, just as importantly, has been a key part in building a positive culture for staff.”

In a message to EEAST’s staff, Mr Abell said: “Many staff have spoken up recently about how the culture needs to change. Work has already begun to create positive change at EEAST and as chief executive, a key part of my role will be to support and equip staff to drive the improvements we want to see. These changes are ultimately the best way to make sure we provide excellent care to everyone in the East of England for the long term.”