Ceo Of Troubled Sussex Hospital Trust To Step Down

The main executive of an NHS infirmary spot wherever constabulary are investigating nan imaginable manslaughter of much than 90 patients is to measurement down.

George Findlay said he was “very proud” of his 10 years astatine University Hospitals Sussex NHS trust, including nan past 3 years arsenic its main executive.

Announcing he would beryllium handing complete nan occupation to an as-yet-unnamed successor this month, he acknowledged it had been a “hugely demanding job”.

His departure comes arsenic Sussex constabulary proceed to analyse possible firm and individual manslaughter charges over allegations of aesculapian negligence and a cover-up astatine nan trust, first revealed successful nan Guardian successful June 2023.

Operation Bramber is focused connected nan deaths of much than 90 patients and superior harm suffered by much than 100 others, successful nan wide room and neurosurgery departments of Royal Sussex region infirmary successful Brighton.

There is nary proposal that Finlay’s departure is linked to nan constabulary investigation.

His resignation comes much than a twelvemonth aft nan Royal College of Surgeons questioned nan suitability of nan activity squad astatine nan spot aft it recovered a “culture of fear” and “bullying” in its operating theatres.

Findlay is named arsenic a responsive successful 2 pending employment tribunal cases against nan spot by elder whistleblowers.

Krishna Singh, an eminent surgeon still employed by nan trust, claimed he mislaid his station arsenic nan trust’s objective head aft raising concerns astir diligent safety, citing immoderate of nan deaths now nether investigation.

Mansoor Foroughi, a advisor neurosurgeon, alleges he was sacked by Findlay successful December 2021 aft he raised concerns astir 19 deaths and 23 cases of superior diligent harm successful nan erstwhile six years.

The trust, which is defending nan claims, has said it is not due to remark publically astir nan individual matters of past aliases coming unit members.

When he was lawman main executive, nether nan erstwhile main executive, Marianne Griffiths, Findlay was praised by nan erstwhile wellness caput Jeremy Hunt for creating “perhaps nan champion learning civilization I saw anyplace successful nan NHS”.

Findlay said his departure would let his successor to lead nan spot strategy for 2025-30.

He said: “Leading specified a large, divers organisation is simply a hugely demanding occupation and I do not expect continuing to do truthful for a further 5 years. That intends this is nan correct infinitesimal to make a change.”

Staff astatine nan trust, and nan families of those who person died aliases were harmed aft alleged negligence, welcomed Findlay’s departure.

Simon Chilcott, whose son, Lewis, died successful July 2021 aft an alleged correction successful a tracheostomy led to infection and a fatal arterial haemorrhage, said: “There should person been a alteration successful activity a agelong clip agone because location are truthful galore problems there.”

Audrey Sharma, whose hubby was near severely abnormal successful 2020 aft he was misdiagnosed arsenic having a people 4 tumour requiring an contiguous operation, said: “Findlay’s resignation is agelong overdue fixed nan inadequate services offered to Sussex patients whilst he has been successful charge.”

She called for surgeons nether suspicion for negligence to beryllium suspended aliases sacked.

The spot has said it is not due to remark publically astir nan individual matters of immoderate individual unit member, whether presently aliases antecedently employed.