The chief executive of Kettering General Hospital has resigned over missed accident and emergency (A&E) targets.
Lorene Read, who announced her resignation today, has been in the post for almost two years.
She is standing down after accepting ultimate responsibility for the hospital not consistently achieving the national target for A&E transit times.
The target figure is for 95 per cent of patients to be dealt with inside four hours. However, between April and June, the trust only dealt with 85 per cent of patients inside the target time. Since July, that figure has increased to 93 per cent.
Clare Culpin, director of nursing and quality and deputy chief executive, will take over as acting chief executive. The trust which runs the hospital says it will be “seeking to make a substantive appointment at the earliest opportunity.”
The hospital’s chairman, Steve Hone, said: “Lorene has served the trust as chief executive for two years and in that time has shown exceptional personal commitment to the role.
“However, the trust has been unable to sustainably achieve the national four-hour A&E transit time target and continues to experience continued pressure regarding its financial position. Lorene believes, as accountable officer, that she should accept ultimate responsibility for that performance.
“She has guided the trust through an exceptionally difficult period both within the trust and in the wider health economy and I would like to offer the formal thanks of the board for all her work on our behalf.
“We wish her every success for the future.”