The NHS trust which runs a Prestwich mental health unit hit by allegations of patient abuse has announced the appointment of a new interim chair who has a wealth of experience in top jobs.
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (GMMH) said last month its chair of six years, Rupert Nichols, would step down at the end of December, seven months before his term of office was due to end.
READ > Boss of Greater Manchester mental health trust steps down after Edenfield allegations
His departure was revealed in the wake of the broadcasting of a disturbing BBC Panorama programme, which covered accusations of patient abuse at the Edenfield Centre, located at the former Prestwich Hospital site.
Undercover reporter Alan Haslam captured footage after spending three months working at the centre as a healthcare support worker.
The shocking footage showed staff mocking, slapping and pinching patients as well as them taunting and mocking patients in vulnerable situations.
Inappropriate restraint was commonly used showing patients in severe distress as well as locking up patients they regarded as “annoying” and “hard-work” into seclusion rooms for up to weeks at a time.
In a letter addressed to trust staff, Mr Nichols said: “Our trust is facing significant challenges following the inexcusable behaviour and examples of unacceptable care that have been exposed at the Edenfield Centre.
“Both I and the board have apologised to those affected directly and indirectly.
“It is clear that it will take some time for the trust to navigate the challenges of successfully implementing our improvement plan and rebuilding faith and confidence in our services.”
READ > Patients at Prestwich hospital filmed being subjected to abuse
Mr Nichols added that his early "retirement" would allow the board time to make a new appointment at the earliest opportunity.
In November, it also emerged that the healthcare regulator, the Care Quality Commission, issued the trust with a warning notice to improve following an inspection.
READ > Mental health trust running Edenfield Centre given legal warning to improve
Last week, GMMH said Bill McCarthy has been appointed as the interim chair of the trust and will take over the role on January 1 for a period up to a year.
The trust say "this will enable seamless leadership in line with the trust’s progress into the next phase of our improvement process, through the NHS England Recovery Support Programme, for the benefit of all our service users, carers and staff".
Mr McCarthy will be stepping down from his current role at Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust, where he has been senior independent director since April.
Before then, he was NHS regional director in the North West, before he retired in 2021.
His previous roles include director of policy for NHS England, chief executive at NHS Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority, deputy vice chancellor at University of Bradford, chair of Bradford Teaching Hospitals, chief executive of City of York Council, and director general in the Department of Health.
The trust said "he will bring a thorough understanding of the NHS and the context within which GMMH operates, as well as a real commitment to improving the lives of the service users, staff and communities GMMH serves".
A "substantive" trust chair will be recruited at the "appropriate time next year" via its council of governors, working with key stakeholders.
GMMH chief executive Neil Thwaite said: “On behalf of the board of directors, we welcome Bill’s appointment as interim chair.
"His vast experience of the NHS and collaboration with partners will be hugely beneficial to our efforts to improve services.
"I look forward to working closely with him in the coming months.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Rupert Nichols, who will shortly leave us after more than six years as our chair.
"I wish him all the best in his retirement.”
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