HOSPICE CHIEF FACES THEAXE
Board takes tough decision after complaints from fed-up staff
The Ayrshire Hospice has been rocked this week with its under-fire chief executive facing the axe.
Boss Carla MacEwan, who earns around £80,000 per year, is set to be shown the door just 18 months into the role after mounting concerns over her leadership from within the organisation.
One senior insider told the Post: “This has been a decision taken to safeguard the future of the Hospice.”
The chief executive of the Ayrshire Hospice is set to be axed, the Post can exclusively reveal.
Carla MacEwan is being shown the door just 18 months into the role after mounting concerns over her leadership from within the organisation.
The Post has learned how a growing number of staff have taken issues over Ms MacEwan to the Hospice Board, forcing them to act.
Now concerned bosses have decided to call time on their CEO, who earns around £80,000-a-year.
A senior insider told the Post this week: “This has been a decision taken to safeguard the future of the Hospice.
“Patient care has never once been compromised, but the growing issues around the CEO’s performance and style of leadership have become a clear problem that can no longer be ignored.”
And the hospice insider added: “No single issue has brought this to a head; rather an accumulation of concerns that have built up over a period of time and made it clear that action now had to be taken.”
Another source pointed to “multiple complaints” brought to the table, adding: “At least 10 senior members of staff have left the organisation during Carla’s short time in charge.
“This was an issue building over time and the Board have acted in the interests of the Hospice.”
Ms MacEwan, who was appointed in October 2020, has recently been spearheading the launch of the £13 million project to rebuild the Hospice base at Racecourse Road in Ayr.
Services have been decanted to Cumnock’s East Ayrshire Community Hospital ahead of the ambitious rebuild, which will “futureproof” the organisation.
But it will now be an interim team that leads the Hospice, which employs around 150 people, with more than 500 volunteers helping to ensure care across the region.
It’s understood members of the Hospice’s Executive Leadership Team are currently filling the breach.
The position of CEO had been vacant for more than a year before Ms MacEwan was recruited to replace previous incumbent Mandy Yule.
But with construction set to begin on the new-look Hospice in a matter of months, bosses will know they need to move quickly this time to find a new figurehead.
When asked about Ms MacEwan facing the axe, John Corrigan, chairman of the Ayrshire Hospice Board, told the Post: “The Ayrshire Hospice does not comment on internal personnel matters.
“I’m sure what is more important to the people of Ayrshire and Arran is that patient care continues to be our prime focus.”
And he pointed out : “Following the successful decant of our In-patient Unit and services to East Ayrshire Community Hospital in Cumnock, we are continuing to provide exceptional palliative and end of life care that the communities across Ayrshire and Arran deserve.”
The Post attempted to contact Ms MacEwan for comment but she didn’t respond as we reached our deadline.