Acute trust chair steps down amid ICS creation

The chair of Gloucestershire Hospitals Foundation Trust will step down earlier than planned to allow his successor to start the role when integrated care systems are formally established.

Peter Lacheki, who had planned to step down in a year’s time, will leave the trust in April 2022. He has chaired the provider for almost six years.

Mr Lacheki said his decision would allow the trust’s new chair to be directly involved in working with “system partners” in shaping the long-term future for healthcare services in the county.

He said: “With the exciting developments of the new ICS it felt like the right thing for me to do to pass on the baton and ensure a new chair can be directly involved in… the strategic development from the outset.”

The trust, which is rated “good” by the Care Quality Commission, said it would start the process of appointing a new chair later this year.

Gloucestershire ICS’ chair designate is Dame Gill Morgan. Its current ICS executive lead is Mary Hutton.