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Praise for departing hospital boss

A Walsall health boss has wished departing chief executive of the trust which runs the borough's main hospital well in his new role.

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Richard Kirby has faced calls to resign from his role as chief executive of the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust over the last two years and announced last week he will be moving on to the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

The Walsall trust was rated ‘inadequate’ during the most recent Care Quality Commission report and was put in special measures.

However, Mr Kirby has been praised for his 'frank and honest' discussions with Walsall Council during his time in charge of the Manor Hospital by councillor Ian Robertson, cabinet member for health.

Councillor Robertson said: "I would like to thank Richard Kirby for all of his hard work over the years.

"He has always been frank and honest when attending meetings with the council and I am looking forward to meeting his replacement in the future, who I hope can carry out their work as well as or better than Mr Kirby."

Mr Kirby is expected to take up his new role as chief executive of the Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust early next year.

The Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is awaiting the outcome of its latest CQC inspection, which took place in July.