You may have seen the media coverage regarding the resignation of our former Trust Chair, Max Mclean. In his resignation letter our former Chair raised several concerns, those related to the role of our Chief Executive and around patient and staff safety, both of which are strongly refuted.
I understand how very concerning it can be when questions are raised about the public service we deliver, and I want to stress that we are committed to delivering high-quality care. Public accountability and assurance are crucial aspects of our work.
At this point I want to make it clear that I wholeheartedly encourage board members, staff and those who receive care from our Trust to voice any concerns they may have about the quality of support they receive. We have reassured all our staff that they should continue to raise any issues immediately. They can reach out to me directly, Mel Pickup, our Trust CEO, the Executive team, their line manager, or through our Freedom to Speak Up Guardians. We have support systems in place for our staff, and we value those who speak up. As a Board, we are committed to conducting investigations or reviews promptly, wherever we can, while respecting confidentiality.
The debate in the media has largely centred on the role of our Chief Executive and the perception that concerns raised by our former Chair were not taken seriously. I want to clarify that this is not the case. Despite multiple attempts to resolve issues with our former Chair and improve the working relationship over several months, a resolution could not be achieved.
The Trust commissioned an independent review to examine concerns about Trust leadership and issues raised by our Chief Executive and our former Chair. Importantly, the review did not recommend escalating the matter to external regulators. The independent review did suggest further discussions to improve working relationships, which our former Chair chose not to participate in and he subsequently tendered his resignation with immediate effect.
Our Trust Board is dedicated to upholding the highest ethical and professional standards. It treats all concerns with the utmost seriousness and is fully committed to transparency and accountability. raised within our organisation. The Trust Board takes the allegations made very seriously and is taking steps to assure itself in respect of each of the issues raised in the independent report. This includes considering and acting on any recommendations and learning.
The Trust has shared the review findings with the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB), and a Rapid Quality Review meeting, in line with the National Quality Board’s Guidance on Quality Risk, has commenced. This meeting included Trust Board members, and regulators such as NHS England and the Care Quality Commission.
The safety of our patients and colleagues is a top priority, and we are unwavering in our dedication to maintaining trust and delivering high-quality care for our communities.
I am grateful for the support of the whole of the Board and would like to thank them, as well as colleagues throughout the Trust, for their continued commitment.
Thank you.
Julie Lawreniuk
[Currently undertaking the duties of the Chair]