Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan raises concerns as new Medway Trust chief executive sharing arrangement gets underway

An MP has criticised a decision for two neighbouring hospital trusts to share a chief executive.It was announced last month that Jonathan Wade, chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, would be taking over as the boss of Medway NHS Foundation Trust as well on Tuesday (April 1).Medway Maritime Hospital in GillinghamHe currently also oversees the north Kent trust responsible for Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup and Erith and District Hospital in Erith.His new appointment, which is set to last for an interim period of six-months, will allow closer collaboration between the two hospitals, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said.Jayne Black left Medway in April to take up an appointment as chief executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.Now, as Mr Wade’s tenure gets underway this week, Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, says she has raised concerns about a “potential period of instability”.When the interim agreement was announced, she outlined reservations that further changes with a part-time CEO could be “detrimental to driving forward improvements and supporting patient care”.Gillingham and Rainham MP Naushabah Khan has raised concerns over the decisions for two hospitals in the county to share a chief executive on an interim basisShe told KentOnline: “I understand there’s lots of reasons why that might be something the Trust wants to take forward and that there’s lots of cases across the country where that works really well and there are joint leadership models in place, in lots of areas including the NHS.“It’s not so much that it’s something that cannot work but I have some immediate concerns, particularly given some of the big challenges we face at Medway Maritime.”The new arrangement follows similar models across the country where trusts are increasingly sharing chief executives and other senior roles.In February this year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) downgraded Medway Maritime Hospital A&E to ‘requires improvement’ after a year-long wait to publish its report.The Trust was told it needed to focus on making specific improvements including tackling the problem of overcrowding and treating patients in undesignated areas.The inspection took place in February 2024.Ms Khan added: “Obviously that report followed an inspection which took place last year so a lot of changes have been put in place since then.“But one of the key things that did come out of that report was there was a sense that there was culture within the organisation where people didn’t feel they could raise concerns with leadership.“That’s something that I think really does need to be addressed and I think that’s something that really needs to start with the leadership of the organisation.“Progress is already happening [since the inspection took place] but I would be really keen to see how a model where we’ve got a shared chief executive works, and what that means for Medway Maritime.“I’m not against us doing this on a short-term basis and seeing how it works and if it can help address some of the challenges the hospital faces that’s brilliant.”But Ms Khan added it it was to be made into a “longer term” arrangement she would want to see evidence that ensures that “makes sense”.Medway Maritime Hospital A&E was downgraded in February“I don’t want to be putting us at any unnecessary risks in the future,” she added.Her Labour colleague, Lauren Edwards, MP for Rochester and Strood, shared her concerns.She said previously: “I will be seeking further assurances from our local NHS leadership team and will work with Medway Council and other Medway MPs to assess if this model is the right one for Medway and will deliver improvements for patients.”Medway already shares a chair with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, while Dartford and Gravesham share a chair, Dr Jackie Craissati, with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust.She welcomed the opportunity for greater collaboration with Medway NHS Foundation Trust.“I am confident our two boards will work well together, and this interim arrangement will allow us to explore how we might achieve more sustainable pathways of care for the people of north Kent,” she said.Jonathan Wade, who is currently chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, has taken over as the boss of Medway NHS Foundation Trust on an interim basisMeanwhile, Mr Wade, who took up the new posting this week previously called it a “real opportunity” for both organisations to learn from each other and make the best use of their “collective expertise”.“By working together more effectively, we can improve resilience, drive innovation and deliver even better care for our communities,” he said.“While both trusts will remain independent, this is a chance to build on what we do well and strengthen services for the future.”

An MP has criticised a decision for two neighbouring hospital trusts to share a chief executive. It was announced last month that Jonathan Wade, chief executive of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, would be taking over as the boss of Medway NHS Foundation Trust as well on Tuesday (April 1). He currently also oversees the north Kent trust responsible for Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford, Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup and Erith and District Hospital in Erith.

His new appointment, which is set to last for an interim period of six-months, will allow closer collaboration between the two hospitals, Medway NHS Foundation Trust said. Jayne Black left Medway in April to take up an appointment as chief executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. Now, as Mr Wade’s tenure gets underway this week, Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, says she has raised concerns about a “potential period of instability”.

When the interim agreement was announced, she outlined reservations that further changes with a part-time CEO could be “detrimental to driving forward improvements and supporting patient care”. She told KentOnline: “I understand there’s lots of reasons why that might be something the Trust wants to take forward and that there’s lots of cases across the country where that works really well and there are joint leadership models in place, in lots of areas including the NHS. “It’s not so much that it’s something that cannot work but I have some immediate concerns, particularly given some of the big challenges we face at Medway Maritime.

” The new arrangement follows similar models across the country where trusts are increasingly sharing chief executives and other senior roles. In February this year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) downgraded Medway Maritime Hospital A&E to ‘requires improvement’ after a year-long wait to publish its report . The Trust was told it needed to focus on making specific improvements including tackling the problem of overcrowding and treating patients in undesignated areas.

The inspection took place in February 2024. Ms Khan added: “Obviously that report followed an inspection which took place last year so a lot of changes have been put in place since then. “But one of the key things that did come out of that report was there was a sense that there was culture within the organisation where people didn’t feel they could raise concerns with leadership.

“That’s something that I think really does need to be addressed and I think that’s something that really needs to start with the leadership of the organisation. “Progress is already happening [since the inspection took place] but I would be really keen to see how a model where we’ve got a shared chief executive works, and what that means for Medway Maritime. “I’m not against us doing this on a short-term basis and seeing how it works and if it can help address some of the challenges the hospital faces that’s brilliant.

” But Ms Khan added it it was to be made into a “longer term” arrangement she would want to see evidence that ensures that “makes sense”. “I don’t want to be putting us at any unnecessary risks in the future,” she added. Her Labour colleague, Lauren Edwards, MP for Rochester and Strood, shared her concerns.

She said previously: “I will be seeking further assurances from our local NHS leadership team and will work with Medway Council and other Medway MPs to assess if this model is the right one for Medway and will deliver improvements for patients.” Medway already shares a chair with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust, while Dartford and Gravesham share a chair, Dr Jackie Craissati, with Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust. She welcomed the opportunity for greater collaboration with Medway NHS Foundation Trust.

“I am confident our two boards will work well together, and this interim arrangement will allow us to explore how we might achieve more sustainable pathways of care for the people of north Kent,” she said. Meanwhile, Mr Wade, who took up the new posting this week previously called it a “real opportunity” for both organisations to learn from each other and make the best use of their “collective expertise”. “By working together more effectively, we can improve resilience, drive innovation and deliver even better care for our communities,” he said.

“While both trusts will remain independent, this is a chance to build on what we do well and strengthen services for the future.”.