Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s chief executive Hisham Abdel-Rahman announced today he will be standing down at the end of the month, but will continue to practice at the hospital as a consultant gynaecologist.

Dr Abdel-Rahman joined the hospital in 2000 and was appointed as permanent Chief Executive in February 2014.

Dr Abdel-Rahman was appointed clinical chairman in 2012 and then chief executive two years later. After working with Circle Health managing the trust, he oversaw its return to NHS management in April this year.

He said that staff and patients could be confident the Trust had a positive future, with investment in better facilities under way and increased clinical leadership in place.

Dr Abdel-Rahman said: “I am very proud of my time as chief executive here at Hinchingbrooke and I want to thank all the staff at the hospital for their support and dedication. Having secured new investment, services and clinicians, overseen the complex transition from Circle back to NHS management, and with the majority of our CQC action plan complete, I believe the time is right for new energy to lead the hospital now.

“Hinchingbrooke has a positive future, with investment in new facilities under way and the quality of care and services improving every day. I am pleased to have been part of the leadership of a new style of NHS management and will use my experience to help support the development of clinical leaders. I look forward, after some time refreshing my clinical skills, to working alongside friends and colleagues again when I return here to practice later in the year.”

Chairman Alan Burns said:“I would like to thank Hisham on behalf of the Board for his positive approach and unshakeable commitment to this hospital and its staff, especially through the past year. He has provided continuity of leadership through some very difficult times and I am pleased that he will continue to work here at our hospital.”

Announcing a new interim chief executive, Alan Burns continued: “I am pleased that we have secured Lance McCarthy as our interim chief executive on secondment until a permanent appointment is made and he will start work here on September 1st. Lance is currently the deputy chief executive of North Middlesex University Hospital. He will bring over twenty years of NHS experience to lead us through the next CQC inspection and drive our two main priorities, improving quality and addressing our financial issues.”