Health
| NEWS | | | | | | AFC WIMBLEDON |  | | | CRYSTAL PALACE NEWS | | | COMPETITIONS | | | | | | ON THIS DAY | | |
|
|
|
Controversial NHS boss steps down
 |
| Stepped down: Ruth Harrison |
Controversial health executive Ruth Harrison has resigned from her job masterminding changes in maternity and paediatric services at Epsom and St Helier Hospitals.
Ms Harrison, who was slated for her management of a hospital where 33 people died from an outbreak of C diff, had been appointed to the post through an agency hired by Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.
She stepped down days after the Epsom Guardian revealed the previous career of the former NHS executive, which included the rationalisation and closing of hospital services as well as the C diff scandal. The story was taken up by national newspapers and broadcasters.
Ms Harrison was described as "The angel of death" by Wycombe MP Paul Goodman for her role in reducing healthcare in Buckinghamshire and before that in Kidderminster.
She resigned from her £130,000-a-year chief executive's job and received a £140,000 pay-off when she left Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust in 2006.
She left as a damning report was published into 33 deaths from C diff, a highly infectious and dangerous stomach bug, at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
She said at the time that she had left the trust to take up an MSc at London University.
She was employed by health consultancy Durrow to take charge of a review that could lead to the closure of full maternity services and in-patient paediatric services at Epsom.
The agency was engaged by a consortium of Epsom and St Helier trust, Surrey PCT and Sutton and Merton PCT.
A spokesman for Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm that Ms Harrison has decided to stand down. She made the decision after press reports linking her previous employment in Buckinghamshire to the review at Epsom and St Helier.
"Ms Harrison was concerned that her involvement would be a distraction and stop the three trusts from being able to effectively engage with patients, local people, staff and other stakeholders in helping to shape the future of women's and children's services at Epsom and St Helier hospitals.
"Ms Harrison will be replaced by Nick Relph. Mr Relph, who works for the specialist health consultancy Durrow, was the former chief executive of Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority and has significant experience within the NHS."
5:02pm Monday 3rd March 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: Ludovica Betts on 8:43pm Mon 3 Mar 08
At last a piece of good news, I thought. Not so. Epsom and St Helier are still retaining the services of the same consultancy (Durrow) employing also Ms Harrison. Given their track record I am sure the tender was desperately competitive. Does the NHS base their criteria in accepting tenders on costs alone? For any other job one must have a proven track record of success. Granted Britain loves the underdog, but to reward incompetence where lives are at stake beggars belief.
L Betts
Epsom
At last a piece of good news, I thought. Not so. Epsom and St Helier are still retaining the services of the same consultancy (Durrow) employing also Ms Harrison. Given their track record I am sure the tender was desperately competitive. Does the NHS base their criteria in accepting tenders on costs alone? For any other job one must have a proven track record of success. Granted Britain loves the underdog, but to reward incompetence where lives are at stake beggars belief.
L Betts
Epsom
Posted by: Anne Wotana Kaye, London on 7:15pm Tue 4 Mar 08
Ruth Harrison, who was in charge at a hospital, Stoke Manderville, where 33 died from a superbug, as a result of the filthy conditions there was given a £140,000 golden handshake. Now, she is a director running a health management consultancy , Durrow, which has been hired to manage a review of womens' and childrens' services at Epsom and St Heliers Hospitals. Surely, she should join the ranks of if not killers on the wards, then at least manslaughters on the wards!
Ruth Harrison, who was in charge at a hospital, Stoke Manderville, where 33 died from a superbug, as a result of the filthy conditions there was given a £140,000 golden handshake. Now, she is a director running a health management consultancy , Durrow, which has been hired to manage a review of womens' and childrens' services at Epsom and St Heliers Hospitals. Surely, she should join the ranks of if not killers on the wards, then at least manslaughters on the wards!
Posted by: G.Virr, Sunbury Common on 2:29pm Thu 13 Mar 08
A typical tale of life in Quango Land ?.
I believe the Government, at some time in the past, promised to reduce the number of Quango's.
They then seemed to have realised what power of patronage the existence of Quango's gives them, Hence more Quango's not less.
A typical tale of life in Quango Land ?.
I believe the Government, at some time in the past, promised to reduce the number of Quango's.
They then seemed to have realised what power of patronage the existence of Quango's gives them, Hence more Quango's not less.
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
