New CEO named for hospitals hot seat
THE next chief executive of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has been announced.
Moving from a role as deputy chief executive and director of nursing at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, Trish ArmstrongChild will replace the outgoing Silas Nicholls, who will soon move to Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Armstrong-Child arrives at a hugely significant time for the trust, with a decision looming over whether services will be moved between the two hospitals or a new single site built to replace both.
Mr Nicholls has previously stated a preference for the latter option, but any decision is likely to face major opposition.
During her six years at Bolton, Ms ArmstrongChild has played a key role in shaping the organisation into one recently rated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) as “Good” overall and “Outstanding” for leadership at all levels.
She became a nurse after being inspired by her mum’s work as a health care assistant in a nursing home and has since gone on to be awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton for her “outstanding contribution to health care” and an MBE for services to nursing.
She completed her training at Whiston Hospital and worked at other North West trusts as staff nurse, sister and matron.
She went on to hold senior positions in nursing and NHS operational management, including deputy director of operations at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust. She joined the board of Bolton in 2013
She said: “I am delighted to be joining Southport and Ormskirk as chief executive.
“Hailing from Merseyside and living locally, I am excited about the opportunity to lead the next stage of development for the trust, putting community interests and patient care at the forefront of what we do.”
Her starting date is yet to be announced, although Mr Nicholls, who had brought stability to the trust after a long period of upheaval and interim appointments during lengthy disciplinary process involving former staff, is set to depart next month.
Welcoming the appointment, West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “I would like to offer my congratulations to Trish on her appointment and look forward to welcoming her and meeting with her to discuss the challenges facing health and social care in West Lancashire. At the last appointment in 2017, I said the trust needed leadership stability to protect and improve services for West Lancashire residents.
“Silas provided that during his time at the trust, and I look forward to the new chief executive continuing that work at a crucial time while the current review of the future of Southport and Ormskirk Hospital Trust and the services it provides is ongoing.”