Chairman of troubled NHS trust steps down

John Cowdall, Chairman of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust has stepped down. Over the past few years the trust has been issued with warnings to improve standards of care and maternity services at some of it's hospitals.

Mr Cowdall said: “I’ve been privileged to be the Chairman of the Trust for the last 17 months. I have had the immense pleasure to work alongside a highly dedicated, caring and professional team of staff, governors and volunteers.

Their passion to provide a first class service for patients has been evident since the first day I joined. In my time as Chairman, I’ve seen our hospitals, under the sterling leadership of Jackie Daniel and the new Board of Directors, steer the Trust through a significant period of improvement.

The Board, governors and staff accept that there is still much more to do, but together with their partners, such as the Clinical Commissioning Groups, I am confident that they will get to where they need to be.”

John Cowdall will be in post as Chairman until 30 June 2014. John Hutton, the Deputy Chair of the Trust will assume Chair responsibilities whilst a successor is recruited.