The chief executive of Birmingham’s largest NHS hospital trust has announced he is to step down in the coming months.
Dr Mark Goldman, aged 59, who heads Heart of England Foundation Trust, in charge of Sutton Coldfield’s Good Hope, Heartlands and Solihull hospitals, revealed he will be retiring from the post in August.
It comes weeks after trust chairman Clive Wilkinson announced he was retiring from the position next month, meaning a total change in the top level of management at the trust.
Dr Goldman has been facing increased criticism in recent months over controversial moves to downgrade Solihull maternity unit, a plan that has temporarily gone ahead despite only being half way through a public consultation, and overseeing body Monitor stepping in after the trust failed targets to see enough A&E patients within four hours for two years in a row.
The trust, which has also come under fire for unnecessary patient deaths by medication overdoses, said Dr Goldman informed the board a year ago that “as he was in his 59th year, he would be retiring from his post as chief executive before the end of 2010”.
Charlotte Calder, trust spokeswoman, said: “This would enable the new chair the opportunity of appointing a new chief executive. This also coincides with a general election and, whoever wins, a new administration.
“He has indicated that if it is in the interest of the trust he would be prepared, following discussions and a formal agreement, to extend this period to allow the chair to settle into post.
“The trust board will commence the process for appointing a new chief executive so that an appointment can be made as close to the date when Mark retires as possible.”
Prior to taking up the role of chief executive, Dr Goldman spent seven years as medical director and 17 years as a consultant surgeon.
At the point of leaving Heart of England, he will have been a member of staff for over 26 years and have served in the NHS for 34 years.
Chairman Clive Wilkinson said: “Mark has been an outstanding chief executive with a national reputation which is why he was appointed to the National Leadership Council and leads nationally on clinical leadership.
“He will be sorely missed by the trust but as we have come to expect has again put the interests of the trust before those of his own. The forthcoming general election, new priorities for the NHS and a new chair will require the trust to continue to look to the long term future and develop its priorities and services based on a new agenda.
“Mark and I have worked together for nine years and he is highly regarded by all staff and partners who work with the trust. He has been a tower of strength to me as chairman and whomever he chooses to work with in the future they will be fortunate to have someone of his calibre. He will be a big loss to the trust and a hard act to follow.”
