WARRINGTON Hospital’s ‘outstanding’ boss has announced he will be leaving the trust.

Dr Simon Constable, chief executive of Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will be leaving the organisation later this year in what was an ‘immensely difficult decision’.

He will be taking up a new post as chief executive of University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust.

Dr Constable joined WHH back in 2015 as a medical director, before becoming deputy chief executive, and then chief executive in 2019.

He has helped lead the trust through significant improvements, including moving it from a Care Quality Commission rating of ‘requires improvement’ to ‘good’ in 2019, as well as responding to the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath over recent years.  

Dr Constable will leave behind a leadership team where there is ‘remarkable continuity, stability and organisational memory’, who share the same values and ambitions to effectively serve the people of Warrington and Halton, as well as the wider region.

He said: “I have enjoyed working as part of the team at Warrington and Halton Hospitals enormously, and this has been an immensely difficult decision.

“I am proud of all that we have achieved together, both internally and with partners across the region. Healthcare is a team effort, and I leave behind a capable team who I know will continue to improve care for the population we serve.”

The chair of the trust board, Steve McGuirk, will lead the process to appoint a successor in due course.

Mr McGuirk said: “I must commend Simon for being an outstanding and compassionate leader and for all he has done for Warrington and Halton, and beyond, over recent years. He will be dearly missed by all of us at the Trust.

“On a personal level, I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Simon, and wish him every success in his next role.”