Finance chief to take reins at York Hospital

4:54pm Thursday 4th October 2007

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AN ACTING chief executive has been appointed to take over the reins at York Hospital until spring next year.

The current director of finance, Patrick Crowley, will take on the role following the departure of Jim Easton at the beginning of November.

The appointment was announced at last night's meeting of the members' council for York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Recruitment of a permanent chief executive will begin in April 2008.

Mr Easton, who announced his resignation last month, said the decision to delay the recruitment process would prevent a period of instability at a crucial time.

He said: "A period of instability in the second half of the year, when we are agreeing the contract with North Yorkshire & York PCT, would be unhelpful for the Trust.

"Patrick and I have worked virtually hand in glove over all the key issues we have been dealing with, particularly over the last year or so and I want to stress the importance of how advantageous it is for Patrick to act in the interim."

He added: "I'm absolutely convinced that at the right time the trust needs to go out to the market and recruit the best possible chief executive we can."

Mr Crowley, who has worked at York Hospitals Trust for 15 years, said he had no aspirations to work in other trusts.

He said: "York is in my heart."

Mr Easton will take up his new position as chief executive of the South Central Strategic Health Authority next month.