Application window for QA Hospital chief executive closes

The interview process for the role will be held soon after the job application window closed. But it could be months before the successful applicant starts at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust.

The trust has been looking for a new chief executive following the resignation of Ursula Ward in May. Tim Powell is filling the interim role and will continue for the next few months.

Peter Mellor, director of corporate affairs and business development at the trust, said: ‘Now the application window has closed, there will be a shortlisting process.

‘Then, there will be subsequent interviews and hopefully an appointment.

‘Assuming the successful appointee is a serving chief executive of a trust then there will be an inevitable delay while they serve their notice.

‘That could be up to six months unless we can negotiate an early release.

‘I don’t think we would expect a new chief executive for some time to come.’

He added: ‘Tim Powell will continue to act in an interim role. We have had some success under his leadership and he’s turning out to be a popular man at the helm.’

NHS Improvement, which supports trusts to give patients consistently safe, high-quality, compassionate care, will be involved in the appointment.

It will help with the shortlist and during interviews.

Mr Mellor said the NHS wants to play a very active role in the appointment of the chief executive following the publicity from the resignation of Ms Ward, the trust’s latest CQC report which heavily criticised the A&E department and the ‘noticeable problems’ the hospital has had.

Possible candidates for the job will go before different panels made up of doctors, governors and other professionals before giving a short presentation and answering questions.

Each group will then provide feedback.

As previously reported in The News, Ms Ward stepped down after 12 years in the position.

At the time, Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt said it was a chance for QA to solve some its problems – most notably in the Cosham hospital’s A&E department – and it should turn it into an opportunity.

She said: ‘QA has some issues it really has to crack and so we need to a very, very good, strong chief executive in that role.’