Last updated at 15:19, Wednesday, 11 July 2012

It means the current chief Dr Neil Goodwin – on a daily rate of £1,750 – will now step down from the role.

From August 13, the day-to-day performance of the hospitals will be managed by Northumbria Healthcare Foundation Trust. This is the organisation which is in the process of taking over North Cumbria University Hospitals Trust as a result of its long-running financial problems.

The new interim management arrangements were being announced to staff today (Wednesday).

The decision was made by the North Cumbria Trust, subject to the legal agreement being signed by all parties. It would see Ann Farrar, currently chief operating officer for the Northumbria Trust, move across as interim chief executive.

Dr Goodwin will continue to advise the Trust Board on finalising the take-over process.

Today's news follows concerns from local MPs over recent months, who united to urge new health bosses from Northumbria to be fast-tracked into place sooner to take over the local Trust. It was in response to revelations that staff at both hospitals flagged up concerns about “near miss” incidents and safety issues.

Hospital bosses maintained that both hospitals are safe.

Reacting to the news, Copeland MP Jamie Reed said: “Whoever replaces Neil Goodwin must deliver what the community wants and expects with regard to hospital services at the West Cumberland Hospital.

“Our hospital has done all of the heavy lifting it can – there are no further efficiencies to find and the new chief executive should be aware of that.

“Working with the medical fraternity at West Cumberland Hospital and with this community must be the priority of the new chief executive.”

He said the new chief will not be “untouchable” and that the community would “insist on accountability”.

The takeover is expected to be completed in December.

Dr Goodwin told The Whitehaven News this week: “This change will facilitate a closer relationship between the Trust and Northumbria, with obvious integration advantages, during the transition period leading to the acquisition. This can only benefit staff, patients and the people of North Cumbria.”

Mrs Farrar, the new chief, said this week: “This is a major step forward towards the creation of one unified organisation which will be focused on delivering world-class care to the communities we serve. There are some excellent examples of good care delivered in both the Cumberland Infirmary and West Cumberland Hospital and we need to build on this and work with staff and the public to deliver the patient outcomes the local communities deserve.”
In response to the safety concerns raised at the time Dr Goodwin said the Trust was in complete control, that the hospitals are safe and that the higher numbers of incidents being reported by staff was positive as in the past workers were not flagging them up.

Confidential documents had revealed claims including A&E departments being unsafe due to lack of staff and beds.  Unions blamed cost-cutting measures across the trust for the problems.

First published at 15:18, Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk