The Gateshead Health NHS Trust boss is to retire early in 2023 and said she "could not be prouder" of the way her team had come through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Yvonne Ormston has been chief executive at the Trust, which manages the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, since 2019, and before that held the same role at the North East Ambulance Service for four years. When she took the reins in Gateshead she was returning to the organisation - as she had previously been deputy chief executive.
Overall, Ms Ormston has spent 38 years in the NHS - and in 2018 she was made an MBE for services to health. Added to the challenges of leading a hospital trust through the pandemic in she also spent 2021 with a breast cancer diagnosis, and worked through months of treatment.
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She said: "I have been incredibly proud to be the CEO for Gateshead Health for the last three years. When I took the CEO role in 2019, I had no idea that any plans or aspirations I had for the Trust would be overtaken by the Covid pandemic.
"Through this, our executive team, our leaders and staff have delivered phenomenal work that has gone into ensuring that we did our very best for Gateshead. I could not be prouder of everyone I work with and wanted to thank them for everything they have done."
The NHS boss - who has been named as one of the NHS's top 50 chief executives by the Health Service Journal industry publication - added that she was sad to be leaving. But she said: "Whilst I’m sad to be leaving, having now set the new trust’s strategy, it feels the right time to be handing over to a new CEO for this next stage in our Trust’s development. We have an exciting future and a key part to play in the local health and social care system."
Alison Marshall chairs the trust's board. She paid tribute to Ms Ormston, saying: "On behalf of everyone at Gateshead Health, I would like to recognise the phenomenal work that Yvonne has achieved here in Gateshead and for the NHS.
"She has successfully steered Gateshead Health through one of the most challenging times it has ever faced during the pandemic and has made sure that we’re constantly delivering the best possible care for our patients. I know everyone will join me in wishing her well."
The trust confirmed that the recruitment process for the Ms Ormston's replacement had begun.
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