Sir Hugh steps in
THE troubled health trust that runs Pinderfields Hospital has appointed a top businessman as its new chairman.
Sir Hugh Sykes takes over from acting chairman Malcolm Batty at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust.
The former Real Radio chairman comes into the job months after the trust was given a 30m Department of Health hand-out to help resolve its critical financial problems.
And he arrives a week after the Express revealed Mid Yorkshire is set to receive no stars from government inspectors for the second year running.
But Sir Hugh said he was delighted to have been offered the role. He said: “With the new hospitals at Pinderfields and Pontefract on the horizon, this is an excellent time to join the trust.
“Although it faces a number of challenges, a great deal has already been achieved to take the trust forward.
“I am committed to supporting the thousands of dedicated and capable staff that work across the trust to build on what has already been achieved and ensure that patients continue to receive the highest standard of healthcare.”
The chairmanship of the trust has been vacant since Lord Geoffrey Lofthouse stepped down for health reasons in December last year.
Sir Hugh, who was chairman at Yorkshire Bank, will receive 21,882 a year for three to three-and-a-half days work a week.
A former South Yorkshire Businessman of the Year, he was instrumental in the acclaimed regeneration of Sheffield’s former industrial heartland as chairman of the Sheffield Development Corporation. He has also been heavily involved in in several charities.
Trust chief executive John Parkes said: “We are delighted that Sir Hugh is joining us at The Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust. His extensive experience will be an invaluable asset to the Trust as we continue to build on the significant progress that has already made over the past year.”
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Saturday 04 February 2012
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