AFTER seven turbulent years leading Ipswich Hospital, chief executive Andrew Reed is set to step down as he prepares to take on a new role within the NHS.

Leaving his post, Mr Reed was thanked and praised for his service to patients but the move was hailed a “fresh start” for the troubled trust.

Since taking over the reigns Mr Reed has faced a mountain of historic debt to tackle and witnessed the opening of the Garrett Anderson wing at the trust, as well as the successful bid to build a new specialist heart centre at the hospital.

But his tenure has been marked by a series of difficulties, with a string of services lost to the hospital and a damning CQC report last year, criticising the hospital’s care of the elderly.

Mr Reed is the fourth member of the senior management team to announce he is leaving the trust, since former chair of the board Mike Brookes announced he was stepping down at the end of last year.

Since then director of business development Andy Burroughs has left the hospital after his position was identified as one to be cut in the recent round of redundancies.

Meanwhile director of nursing and quality and infection prevention and control, Siobhan Jordan announced this week she will be leaving to take up a new role as nurse lead for the clinical commissioning group for Epping, Harlow and Uttlesford.

Speaking ahead of his move in May – to work for the region’s strategic health authority, NHS Midlands and East – Mr Reed told the Star it is the right time for a new chief executive to take up the reigns at the Heath Road hospital.

“After almost seven thoroughly enjoyable years at Ipswich Hospital this is a fantastic opportunity to make a difference on a wider scale,” he said. “Ipswich is a great hospital, but this is an opportune time for a new chief executive to pick up the reigns and see the hospital through its next stage of development.

“I would like to thank the many friends and colleagues, both in the hospital and beyond, who have supported me in my time here.”

While east Suffolk’s MPs moved to thank Mr Reed, North Ipswich and Central Suffolk MP Dr Dan Poulter said the change will be a good opportunity for the hospital to move forward.

Ipswich MP Ben Gummer said: “Andrew has pulled the hospital back from the brink after inheriting a financial disaster.

“He faced a huge challenge to hospital services and he leaves a hospital where services are returning and finances are in better shape.”

Dr Poulter welcomed the news as a fresh start.

“First of all, it is important to thank Andrew for his years of service to the hospital,” he said. “This is an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chief executive will bring that.

“We can now draw a line under the many problems. This is a real chance for the hospital to develop into the outstanding hospital we know it is and we know it will be in the future.”

Suffolk Coastal MP Dr Therese Coffey recognised Mr Reed’s role in helping the hospital “bounce back” after a damning CQC report and a difficult financial period.

“I know Andrew has been fighting for the needs of Ipswich Hospital and the patients,” she added.

Mr Reed will be leaving Ipswich Hospital to take up his new role as programme director for acute service reconfiguration at NHS Midlands and East.

n What do you think? Write to health reporter Lizzie Parry at Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail lizzie.parry@archant.co.uk