Trust CEO ‘behaved poorly’ and chair was ‘complicit’, NHS England review concludes

An NHS England review into the behaviour of high-profile senior leaders who took over a Midlands trust has concluded that the interim CEO “behaved poorly and inappropriately” while its chair was “complicit with” and failed to address problems.

NHS England had commissioned an independent probe into allegations about the behaviour of new executives, who had recently been appointed to the board of Walsall Healthcare Trust.

David Loughton and Professor Steve Field, who hold the same roles at the Royal Wolverhampton Trust, were brought in as interim chief executive and chair respectively in spring 2021.

Walsall has faced care quality concerns for some years and it was hoped the pair from neighbouring Wolverhampton would bring improvements. 

Dr McLean wrote in her review: “Leadership changes can, understandably, represent a period of anxiety for those affected but this can be minimised if changes are made in line with appropriate values and processes. 

“Whilst I conclude that the joint chair and interim CEO were motivated to act in the best interests of patients, I was saddened by much of what I heard.

”In the narratives I heard, there was a consistent lack of compassion or respect for people.”

She concluded: “The interim CEO, while motivated by the safety and care of patients, has behaved poorly and inappropriately … the joint chair has been complicit with and failed to address this behaviour.”

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Source: HSJ, 2 February 2022