THE local health trust has been hit by a further loss with the departure of its Chief Medical Officer (CMO) – and the interim appointee who replaced him.
Mark Wake had been on a secondment and has now accepted a fixed term contract at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust as an ENT consultant.
His replacement at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, Dr Andy Philips, who stepped in as interim CMO a year ago on a 12 month contract is also going, to be replaced by Andrew Short, one of the permanent medical staff who has been temporarily appointed Acting CMO.
This latest development follows news this week that the Trust has suffered the resignation of three key specialists from its medical team with the departure from the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch of Dr David Aldulaimi to Warwick Hospital, Dr Martin Fotherby from Worcestershire Royal to Leicester and Dr James Young, a consultant physician in acute medicine.
Furthermore a fourth consultant, Nick Purser, a consultant breast surgeon also based at the Alex, is to leave on a 12 month sabbatical.
“Myself and the other local MPs are planning to sit down with the Secretary of State to discuss the issues at the Alex and with the Trust as this has been going on for a very long time.”
A Trust spokesperson said: “In the last year we have recruited 41 consultants, 16 Specialty doctors and nine Clinical Fellows, which equates to 66 senior doctors to cover both sites and more recently Jan Stevens has joined us as Chief Nurse, whilst this is on an interim basis, it shows that we are able to attract high calibre, experienced people to our team.
“It is clear that uncertainty around the future of hospital services in Worcestershire has had an impact on staff morale, the final proposal agreed by our clinicians, is currently with the clinical senate and will enable us to move forward with confidence, with a clear message to patients and staff that 95 per cent what is currently delivered at the Alexandra Hospital will remain at the Alex.
“The fact that we are now delivering the majority of our elective orthopaedic work and plan to move other elective surgery to the Alexandra shows that all of our hospitals have a bright future.
“Ending this uncertainty, will be key to our ability to attract and then keep good people who want to make a difference.”
On the departure of Drs Mark Wake and Andy Phillips, Trust chief executive Chris Tidman said: “We thank Mark for his contribution as Chief Medical Officer to the Trust and wish him success in his new role.
“Andy Phillips joined us last May on a 12 month secondment which is now coming to an end. Andy joined us at a challenging time and I would like to express my huge thanks to Andy for the improvements he has put in place.”
