10 May 2002
Milburn announced in February that four no-star trusts would get new chief executives under his franchise scheme, which seconds the best managers into the toughest jobs. Staff at the trusts appealed for continuity as all had recently had interim chiefs appointed.
Sue Jennings was appointed at Dartford and Gravesham Trust in November and will continue as chief executive of Basildon and Thurrock Trust.
Alan Bedford will be chief executive at Portsmouth Hospitals Trust and Paul O'Connor will take the top job at Barnet and Chase Farm. They have been the trusts' acting chiefs since February.
Andrew Morris will continue at Ashford and St Peters Hospital Trust for a year and will retain the chief executive job at Frimley Park. Glen Douglas, who will initially work as the trust's project director, will take over at Ashford in April 2003.
'This is a further step in the process of bringing the performance of all NHS organisations up to the standards of the best,' Milburn said.
PFmay2002
