Mental health chief quits after criticism
- 11 November 2004;Used with kind permission of the Kentish Gazette
The chief executive of a hospital trust which was criticised over health and safety standards has resigned.
David Parr has quit 11 months after a shock report questioned senior management's control of health and safety standards at St Martin's Hospital, Canterbury.
Mr Parr, who is head of the East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust, has also been in charge of the review of mental health services in east Kent over the past two years.
He has been chief executive for the past six years and leaves in February.
Last year the Government's Health and Safety Executive exposed serious deficiencies in the running of St Martin's and other mental health units at William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, and Thanet.
In a message to staff about his resignation, Mr Parr said: "I feel that the time is now right to move on, both from an organisational and personal
perspective."
Mary Crittenden, trust chairman, said: "I am very sad to see David go.
"I am sure that between now and when he finally leaves in February many tributes will be made to his dedication to mental health services.
"We are just now entering a very exciting phase in the evolution of mental health services and in this trust.
“We have risen from a one-star to a two-star trust this year and the only way is forward."
Mr Parr, who is to become chief executive of a Leeds hospice, piloted the formation of a strategic
partnership with Kent Social Services dedicated to providing health and social care services for people with mental health and learning disability problems.
In July last year, he launched the newly-named East Kent NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.
Since February, he has been involved in a
comprehensive review of in-patient services, culminating in the centralisation of mental health in-patient services for those aged 16-65 at St Martin’s.
In a statement on Mr Parr's departure the trust stated: "Implementation of these changes is a long-term project which is not expected to be complete until around April 2008. So, this seemed an appropriate time for David to pass on the baton."
Harman & Harman represent a number of Claimants in claims for medical negligence against this Trust.