The boss of Southport Hospital has quit her role just two years after taking up the post.
Trish Armstrong-Child, chief executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, has accepted the role of chief executive at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
She departs amidst a major review into hospital services locally, after the launch of the ‘Shaping Care Together’ programme in January.
Southport Hospital is currently rated ‘Requires Improvement’ by the Care Quality Commission although a follow-up inspection carried out by inspectors in March found the hospital had made “improvements across all assessed domains”.
Trish Armstrong-Child will take up her new post later this year and succeeds Kevin McGee who has been appointed chief executive of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
She was previously deputy chief executive and director of nursing at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. She was appointed as chief executive at Southport and Ormskirk in 2019.
She said: “When I joined the Trust, I could never have imagined that I would be leading the organisation and its staff through a global pandemic. What seemed an ‘impossible ask’ of us 18 months ago saw the staff of Southport and Ormskirk rise to the challenge and, in the face of adversity, continue to serve the patients and the community when they needed us most.
“This organisation has much to be proud of and I feel immensely proud to have been a part of it.”
Trust Chair Neil Masom said: “Trish has been an outstanding chief executive, guiding the organisation with skill and compassion through an extraordinarily challenging period. We wish her all the very best in her new role.”
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “I am really pleased that Trish has been appointed to the CEO role at Blackpool Hospitals. She came to Southport and Ormskirk at a very difficult time, and despite the circumstances, has done an impressive job.
“Whilst it may be improving, I am still concerned about the quality of services provided by the Trust. With 13 fragile services, the Trust needs all the help and support it can get.
“I am therefore glad that St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals have agreed to step in. As a CQC rated outstanding Trust, their expertise will be invaluable in ensuring a sustained and permanent improvement of health services to my constituents.”
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