A third senior figure has left East Midlands Ambulance Service in the space of three months. Chairman Jon Towler has resigned after two-and-a-half years in the role.
The decision comes following the resignation of chief executive Phil Milligan in August and Mark Gough, its first-ever chief operating officer, in October.
And it comes in the middle of the trust’s plan to radically overhaul the way it operates by closing stations and replacing them with super stations – in a bid to improve “poor performance”.
Mr Towler’s departure was announced by both EMAS and the NHS Trust Development Authority – a national body which aims to provide “support, oversight and governance” for all NHS trusts.
It said it had been helping EMAS with “ongoing board development”. He will be replaced by Pauline Tagg as acting chairman for up to six months.
Ms Tagg said: “Jon has worked hard with the interests of front-line staff and services at his heart. I’m pleased to be taking on the role of chairman, working with our dedicated staff to deliver improvements and give the very best clinical care to people in the East Midlands.”
Ms Tagg started her career as a nurse and was director of nursing at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust.
She joined EMAS in 2011 as a non-executive director and was awarded an MBE medal in 2009 for services to healthcare in Leicester.
Ms Tagg can receive a remuneration of £21,105 per annum for her work.
