Monitor has appointed a new chair to the board of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Kings Lynn NHS Foundation Trust who will oversee a shake-up of the management team.
The trust has been in breach of its licence due to financial issues since April, but Monitor today announced that, following warnings from the Care Quality Commission and NHS England on patient care and staffing levels, the trust would be placed in special measures.
The new chair at Kings Lynn is David Dean, who is currently vice chair at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. He replaces Kate Gordon who has stepped down.
Manjit Obhari has been appointed chief executive. He was medical director of the turnaround team at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
David Hill, who as chief executive led the turnaround of neighbouring James Paget Hospital in Great Yarmouth, has been appointed improvement director.
Stephen Hay, managing director of provider regulation at Monitor, said: ‘We have been monitoring the performance of this trust for some time, and it is clear that the current leadership of the trust is not the right one to bring about the changes needed.
‘That’s why we’ve taken this action, appointing new leadership and bringing in a team that has a wealth of experience. Special measures will give the trust the opportunity to start delivering the standard of care patients expect.’
The trust pledged to take swift action to improve quality of care.
Acting chief executive Sharon Beamish said: ‘We apologise to our patients for falling short of what should be expected and to our staff for allowing the trust to get into this position.
‘We accept the reports’ findings and as a board we will work with Monitor to do everything we can to put things right as quickly as possible.’
Meanwhile, Monitor has today also demanded immediate improvements in patient care from Derby Hospitals NHS Trust. The trust missed targets, agreed with the regulator in April, to improve accident and emergency treatment times. It also had an operating deficit of £1.9m.
Monitor’s regional director Adam Cayley said it was ‘disappointing’ that the trust had not been able to deliver on its commitments.
‘Derby must ensure immediate and effective action is now taken,’ he said.
‘Monitor will have to consider what changes will need to be made if the trust does not demonstrate rapid improvements.’
