The chief executive of Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust is to leave the role after four years.
Richard Mitchell will step down in September to take up his new role as chief executive of University Hospitals of Leicester.
He has led Sherwood Forest Trust since 2017, overseeing the management of healthcare services in Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark, and Sherwood and some parts of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
During his time Sherwood picked up the Trust of the Year award, issued by healthcare trade magazine Health Service Journal (HSJ).
The trust will be run by an interim chief executive, Paul Robinson, the current chief financial officer and deputy chief executive, while the process of finding a replacement for Mr Mitchell begins.
Sherwood Forest Trust operates three major hospitals in the region - King’s Mill in Mansfield, Newark Hospital, and Mansfield Community Hospital.
Commenting on his departure, Mr Mitchell said: "I have really enjoyed my four years at Sherwood and thank you for the support I have received.
“Sherwood had made huge progress before I joined and I am pleased we have kept the improvement going.
“I am proud we have grown a culture here that is more inclusive, more compassionate and kinder; we have strengthened the care we provide to patients and we now work more effectively with other health, care and voluntary organisations.
"Sherwood winning the HSJ Trust of the Year this year and being third best Trust in the NHS staff survey in 2020 is evidence of what we are now all about.”
Claire Ward, chairperson of Sherwood Forest Hospitals said: "I want to take this opportunity to thank Richard publicly, on behalf of our board, our colleagues and our patients for his leadership over the past four years and his commitment to helping Sherwood to continuously improve and to become a truly great place to work and to receive care.
"We will all miss Richard, but I congratulate him on his new role and I am sure he will be a great success at Leicester. He is leaving Sherwood in safe hands, with a strong leadership team, strong relationships with our partners and clear plans for continued growth and improvement.
"I wish Richard all the best for the future and am pleased that he remains as part of our regional NHS family."
To read all the biggest and best stories first sign up to read our newsletters here.
