Patients and their families will be rightly thinking today what on earth is going on because it appears this organisation is lurching from disaster to disaster.
I understand Mr Smart has stood down for personal reasons and I wish him well in that respect. But I think he lacked judgement regarding Katrina Percy and her move sideways in the trust. She should have resigned as chief executive and he should have ensured she left – that would have given families the confidence to believe the trust was moving forward.
Southern Health now needs a new chair and a new chief executive and perhaps the ability to appoint people untainted by the past is a blessing.
My hope is these will be quick appointments of experienced leaders able to grasp the magnitude of the problems Southern faces and people who will ensure badly needed confidence is restored for those using the trust’s services and for those who are working there too.