Trust chair resigns ahead of critical CQC report

Alan Downey announced this week he would be stepping down as chair of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust later this month. He told HSJ the decision was for personal reasons.

It comes as the trust is braced for critical Care Quality Commission reports covering the trust’s emergency care, maternity services and medical wards, as well as its leadership.

Discussions at trust board meetings reveal the watchdog is set to highlight “unsafe/ineffective care” in the emergency department and “defensive behaviour” from staff during the inspection.

York and Scarborough has struggled to make inroads into elective waiting lists and has one of the highest proportions of 12 hour waits in its emergency department.

In June last year the trust was handed a warning notice after inspectors said a lack of nursing staff was affecting “fundamental” patient care. The trust has subsequently recruited additional healthcare assistants to support its workforce.

This year the regulator warned the trust again following concerns about maternity care.

Mr Downey worked in the civil service and then KPMG before moving into NHS non-executive roles. He became chair in February 2022, taking over from Sue Symington, who now chairs the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care System.

Mr Downey said: “It has been a privilege to have been the chair of the trust, albeit for a relatively short period, and I shall be sorry to say goodbye to such a wonderful group of people.”

CEO Simon Morritt said: “Alan has led our board through the beginnings of our recovery from the pandemic and some of the most challenging times our organisation has experienced. He has always championed the interests of the people we serve – patients, families and carers.

“He has also been a powerful advocate for the people who work here and for expanding and developing our workforce to meet the needs of our population. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and on behalf of the board I thank him for his commitment to the trust and our staff throughout his time as chair. I wish him well for the future.”