Hospital’s hero is new guiding light

THE man whose report paved the way for the rescue package for Hinchingbrooke Hospital is to be its new chief executive. Mark Millar, formerly director of resources and planning at the now defunct Essex Strategic Health Authority, proved last year that the

THE man whose report paved the way for the rescue package for Hinchingbrooke Hospital is to be its new chief executive.

Mark Millar, formerly director of resources and planning at the now defunct Essex Strategic Health Authority, proved last year that the debt-ridden hospital was not a complete basket case.

Building on his report for the new East of England SHA, interim chief executive Jane Herbert put together a series of measures with clinicians and managers that meant surgery, A&E and maternity services could stay at Hinchingbrooke.

That package is in the first month of a three-month consultation by Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trust about how hospital and other medical services will be delivered in Huntingdonshire in future.

Mr Millar, a certified accountant who has worked in the NHS for more than 30 years, will take over command when Ms Herbert's six-month contract ends on April 1. He will lead the trust for two years before it disappears as part of the rescue package.

He said: "I worked with Hinchingbrooke Hospital last summer to review its financial position for the proposals on its future. I am delighted to accept this opportunity to return to Hinchingbrooke to work with trust and PCT colleagues to lead the required service changes for the benefit of patients, staff and the wider community."

Trust chairman Sue Smith said: "Mark has extensive experience of the NHS and will use his experience in financial management, operational performance and business planning to steer the trust through its service re-development over the next two years.

"I also want to thank Jane Herbert for her outstanding leadership over the last six months and for delivering a proposal that secures the future of clinical services at the hospital."

Mr Millar, 53, lives in Suffolk. He is married with three children. Ms Herbert, who lives in north Hertfordshire, is married with five parrots.

One of the consultation meetings will be at HDC's Pathfinder House on Friday from 10.30 am.