The chair of Southport hospital has confirmed that “talks are continuing positively” with St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust over a “support agreement”.
The board of Southport and Ormskirk hospitals also confirmed in a message to staff that they hope to name a successor to departing Chief Executive Trish Armstrong-Child, who leaves to start a new role as Chief Executive of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
In July, the HSJ said: “SOHT has long been deemed unsustainable as a standalone provider. Well-placed sources in the region said Ms Armstrong-Child’s departure should pave the way for the trust to be taken over by St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals Trust, and its chief executive Ann Marr.”
However, while the Trust Board went on to deny that Southport hospital was set to close, they did reveal that they were struggling to provide “around a dozen or so ‘fragile’ clinical services” and were seeking support from “the wider NHS”.
In a message to staff on Tuesday, Trust Chair Neil Mason said: “When I wrote to you on 20 July, I said I would keep you up to date with progress on our discussions about a support agreement with St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
“These talks are continuing positively with the support of NHS England and I anticipate being able to tell you their outcome early next month.
“In the meantime, I want to let you know that Chief Executive Trish Armstrong-Child will start her new role leading Blackpool hospitals on 20 September. Her final working day in the Trust will be Friday 3 September.
“I am sure you join me in wishing her the very best for the future.
“The Trust Board hopes to name Trish’s successor very shortly.”
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