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East Lancashire hospitals chief to quit NHS (From Blackburn Citizen)
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East Lancashire hospitals chief to quit NHS
7:10pm Friday 6th November 2009
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- By Tom Moseley » Local government reporter
EAST Lancashire’s hospitals have been ‘left in limbo’ after the chief executive announced she was walking away from the NHS.
Bosses have today announced Marie Burnham will leave for ‘personal reasons’ once her current secondment leading the region’s swine flu operation runs out in August.
Her departure comes amid a tenure marked by problems and rows over the area’s A&E department following the decision to axe Burnley General’s emergency department.
And prior to her resignation being announced, an experienced paramedic had come forward to severely criticise the set-up, saying some areas were getting a ‘second class service’.
Ms Burnham, who was unavailable for comment yesterday, only joined East Lancashire Hospitals Trust 15 months ago.
Her departure leaves Blackburn and Burnley hospitals with a temporary part-time chief executive - Halifax and Huddersfield hospitals boss Diane Whittingham - until August 2010, and the trust said it had not yet decided what to do afterwards.
A statement released by the trust said Ms Burnham had written to all staff explaining her departure was ‘due to changes in her personal circumstances’.
But the sudden announcement has shocked health campaigners, while unions say services could suffer from the disruption.
Hospital critic and Burnley Council leader Gordon Birtwistle said: "The present situation is a complete shambles.
"We are now left with a part-time chief executive when the hospital trust is in crisis.
"You don't want to have a part-time captain on a sinking ship and that is exactly what we have.
"I am surprised that the news has come through now, but I never expected her to return after her secondment.
"We need to find a new chief executive who is fully committed to the hospitals in East Lancashire.
"Now we are stuck in a less than enviable situation where we are in limbo for the next nine months.
"We need a new chief executive straight away to sort out this crisis and not before it is too late."
In a statement, trust chair Hazel Harding thanked Ms Burnham for her time with the hospital, adding: “We respect the difficult personal decision Marie has had to make and, on behalf of the trust, I would like to wish Marie the very best for the future.
“Under the leadership of Diane Whittingham as our interim chief executive I am confident we have in place an effective team to lead us through this transitional period.”
Miss Burnham is now the fourth high-profile figure to leave the trust in 18 months.
They include her predecessor Jo Cubbon and two former chairmen, Christine Kirk and Alan Green.
Unison rep Tim Ellis said: “There needs to be a period of clear stability.
"Each new chief executive will make changes and bring their own policies.
“We have had too many chops and changes, and the future management of the trust must provide some stability.”
It is understood the trust will now look to appoint a new permanent chief executive, but it is not known when this will be.
In the meantime, Ms Whittingham will divide her time between East Lancashire and Calderdale and Huddersfield which are based 50 miles apart.
A spokesman for Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust confirmed the arrangement was seen as temporary.
Jack Straw, Blackburn MP, said: “It is unfortunate that there has been instability in the senior appointments in recent years and that has affected performance.
“We must now ensure that the new chief executive is a strong candidate who can take the service forward.”
Blackburn's health watchdog Coun Roy Davies said it was not surprised but was disappointed Ms Burnham had only been in post for 15 months.
He said: “What we need now is stability, which is something that we have lacked for a long time.
"It is difficult to assess her tenure as chief executive because you need time to see results but it has certainly been a difficult time in charge.
“If we look to the future now I think we need someone who is commited to the job and the area on a long-term basis."
In July Ms Burham declined to give a firm commitment that she would return from the 12-month secondment to run the NHS regional swine flu operation.
But she said: “You are never going to stop people gossiping, but professionally it’s a fantastic opportunity.
"People always say there are other reasons. There are none.
"If it had not come along I would still be at East Lancashire.”
Ms Burnham would not be receiving a pay-off from her departure, a hospital spokesman said.
In September an inquest heard that the civil partner of Ms Burnham killed herself in May after their relationship broke down.
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Your Say YourCitizen
whitevanman1, burnley says...
3:18pm Fri 6 Nov 09
Inter-Rossiter, East Lancs says...
4:03pm Fri 6 Nov 09
After all, she played a leading role in a failing NHS Trust before she came here and no-one in their right mind should have looked at her CV, never mind appointing her as chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals.
Makes you wonder whether any brown envelopes were involved or was it a bit of good old fashioned nepotism?
.
One thing is for sure though. She'll get a pension that most of us can only dream of.
.
So well done to all concerned. Not only have staff and patients suffered from lack of coherent leadership, but we'll also be paying the financial cost of this utter folly for years to come.
Byanothername, Burnley says...
5:18pm Fri 6 Nov 09
Regrettably it appears that people are too quick to point the finger at Marie Burnham who has faced horrendous personal problems and deserves more respect regarding same.
Remember the decision to combine the A & E was based on medical evidence and that has proved to be correct with fewer deaths. Also, the 2 PCT's and the SHA or whatever they choose to call themselves now were in total agreement with the change but seem incapable of commenting in case they become a target for the vitriol aimed at the Hospital Trust.
Now hopefully the Trust will appoint a full time CEO as no-one can do what is an incredibly complex job part-time. Unfortunately, those who spout off on here about management haven't really got a clue of the complexity of the task.
Old Timer, Burnley says...
7:39pm Fri 6 Nov 09
Old Timer, Burnley says...
7:45pm Fri 6 Nov 09
DaveBurnley, Burnley says...
9:16am Sat 7 Nov 09
Brian Todd, Blackburn says...
8:11pm Sat 7 Nov 09
I feel anyone who, for whatever reason, takes a secondment to a different post indicates how important she sees her "permanent" job and the people who expect her to carry it out.
It may have been a great career opportunity for her, but it really was not helpful to her employers nor theesidents of East Lancashire. In fact I feel the Trust Board should have stopped the secondment when it was suggested. It is confusing to keep up with the number of Chief Officers East Lancashire Hospital seems to have had!!!!!
DaveBurnley, Burnley says...
7:55am Sun 8 Nov 09
Izanears, Nelson says...
1:54pm Sun 8 Nov 09
After all, she played a leading role in a failing NHS Trust before she came here and no-one in their right mind should have looked at her CV, never mind appointing her as chief executive of East Lancashire Hospitals.
Absolutely spot on INTER-ROSSITER. From what I have read, she left a right mess behind her at her previous position. It would seem that in politics, government, the police, the public sector, and the NHS, one sure way of getting promotion and big fat salaries, is to make a bl**dy great mess of things.
Davidoff, n/a says...
5:23pm Tue 10 Nov 09
Byanothername wrote:Aww, 'horrendous personal problems'. Oh, you mean like the thousands of other patients who attend the shambles/nonsense of a hospital - too many chiefs etc etc - and substandard local health service go through daily?
Unfortunately Brian you are incorrect. I am sure this won't come as too much a shock to you! Dianne Whittingham is the part time post holder.
Regrettably it appears that people are too quick to point the finger at Marie Burnham who has faced horrendous personal problems and deserves more respect regarding same.
Remember the decision to combine the A & E was based on medical evidence and that has proved to be correct with fewer deaths. Also, the 2 PCT's and the SHA or whatever they choose to call themselves now were in total agreement with the change but seem incapable of commenting in case they become a target for the vitriol aimed at the Hospital Trust.
Now hopefully the Trust will appoint a full time CEO as no-one can do what is an incredibly complex job part-time. Unfortunately, those who spout off on here about management haven't really got a clue of the complexity of the task.
Patients have horrendous problems as well. Some of whom don't have a nice salary to live on, nor will be walking away with a 'generous handshake' should they suddenly develop 'horrendous problems'. They have to suffer with health problems day in day out and bang their heads against brick walls with the idioicy of the local health authority, I won't get into Patient Choice here, either! Let alone the ambulance journies some have to take. Getting your health checked over when you are ill should be a relatively simple matter in the 21st century. But, no, thanks to 'management' we have a system that is an apalling mess! Sort it out!
"Unfortunately, those who spout off on here about management haven't really got a clue of the complexity of the task."
So are the lives of the patients who are put through this shambles of a health service. Trouble is their health AND personal lives are worsened as a result of inadequote 'management' decisions. Once I was told by an NHS worker that one day someone was working in the cafe, putting curtains up in a hospital (not in Lancashire), next day she's suddenly a 'manager'. Wonder how many others get into 'management' that way as well? It happens.
So, the lives of the patients are made more complicated.
So, as for 'horrendous personal problems'. I can be certain there are thousands of patients out there with far worse 'horrendous personal problems'. Only trouble is I wonder if these same 'management' types would spare one thought for those people? If they can't that sums them up perfectly!
Personally, I don't care less what manager has left. But lets START - yes START - putting human beings first and stop putting them through this cattle market of a local health service.
It's time people spoke up because if the ordinary public can see what a mess it is and nothing is done about it then questions need to be asked! Problem is those same members of the public will continue to suffer until matters are sorted out. Put patients first. It's what the NHS used to be all about and was created for. So that it was easy to get health care, was easily accessible. It's because of these 'managers' it's become possibly one of the most user unfriendly services there is!
As to managers. Example - can we expect to have the next manager recruited because they managed a burger bar chain? Have a think about it!
'First do no harm'.
QUIT: Marie Burnham
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Brian Todd, Blackburn says...
3:08pm Fri 6 Nov 09
There seems to have been difficulty in obtainig a Chief Officer who will actually stay and work in East Lancashire, especially considering the very poor financial management of this Trust in the past.
I am disappointed but should not be surprised looking at the history of the post.