Directors of Southern Health step down

The trust has announced four of its non-executive directors have followed in the footsteps of a fifth member and handed in their resignation.

It comes after the trust, which looks after patients across Gosport, Fareham and Havant, has completed its clinical services review which looked at its mental health and learning disability services as well as developments in its provision of community physical health services.

Interim chairman Alan Yates said: ‘From the review, the board has identified the benefits of much greater inclusion of service users and carers in the organisation as well as the delivery of its services.

‘These plans mark a turning point in the trust’s life and the opportunity to move forward.

‘It is clear to us all the trust leadership will need to look quite different if it is to meet the needs of patients, service users and stakeholders.

‘They have also supported me as I try to develop a board with the skills specific to these new strategic tasks.

‘As a consequence, four non-executive directors have jointly offered their resignation.’

Mr Yates added Southern Health will be looking to recruit a new chairman.