Hospitals crisis: Trust appoints new Chair
‘SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES’: Alan Downey
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
The region’s struggling hospitals trust has announced the appointment of a new Chair.
Alan Downey will take on the role of joint Chair of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (HUTH) and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG), which together form Humber Health Partnership (HHP), from April 1.
The Hull Story exclusively revealed earlier this month that HUTH is now officially one of the worst performing health trusts in the country.
It is ranked 130th out of 134 trusts in NHS England’s national league table, dropping from 123rd last September. This is despite the appointment of interim CEO Lyn Simpson in July on a reported salary of £279,162 and spending more than £390,000 in six months on the salaries and expenses of a six-strong ‘improvement team’.
HUTH is also performing worse than the national average for every measure on the NHS England Data Dashboard, including for cancer treatment and A&E waiting times, and remains rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
HHP is being moved into the highest level of NHS England scrutiny, known as ‘segment 5’ – reserved for organisations with “significant concerns”.
The partnership has a cost savings target in excess of £100m this year, which has resulted in significant financial constraints being imposed on most departments.
FAILING TRUST: Hull Royal Infirmary
These include a freeze on recruitment for all non-clinical roles, even when there are vacancies. Teams also have to apply to senior management to buy basic items such as pens and pads of paper.
Trade unions UNISON and the RCN (Royal College for Nursing) have expressed serious concerns over the situation and Dame Diana Johnson, MP for Hull North and Cottingham, has demanded answers.
Mr Downey, who will replace interim Chair Murray Macdonald, has previously served as Chair of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
He said: “It is a privilege to be appointed as Chair of Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust.
“I know that the Humber Health Partnership faces significant challenges, but I am encouraged by the honesty with which those challenges are now being addressed.
“My focus will be on ensuring strong governance, clear leadership and close partnership with clinicians and colleagues as we continue to stabilise the organisation and improve the quality and safety of care for patients.”
In a statement released by the partnership, Ms Simpson said: “I am delighted to welcome Alan to the partnership.
HIGHEST LEVEL OF SCRUTINY: Lyn Simpson
“His experience as an NHS Chair and his track record of supporting organisations through periods of improvement will be invaluable as we continue the stabilisation work now underway.
“Having a substantive Chair in place is an important step in strengthening our leadership and governance as we move forward with the improvement plan and the strengthening of hospital leadership arrangements.
“I would also like to thank Murray Macdonald for stepping into the interim Chair role over recent months.
“His leadership has helped support the organisation through an important period of transition.”
The Hull Story has requested an interview with Ms Simpson about the current failings at the trust but has not had a reply.