NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland’s chairman John Gant is to retire after seven years with the NHS.
He first became chairman of Melton, Rutland and Harborough Primary Care Trust in 2003 and was later appointed chairman when the trust was merged into Leicestershire County and Rutland Primary Care Trust in 2006.
Mr Gant said he had decided to step down from his role as chairman when his present four-year term finishes at the end of September.
“I’ve had seven years, which is a good stint for a chairman, but there are now other things I want to do,” he said.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to work for these two great organisations at a time of great change for the NHS. I have worked with some fantastic people and have very much enjoyed my time with the trust.”
Mr Gant selects the improvement in the quality and range of services closer to home as one of the highlights of his time with NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland. He is also glad to see greater patient and public involvement locally with the NHS.
He cites the trust’s membership scheme, Be Healthy, Be Heard, as another achievement of which he is proud, saying: “I was personally involved in creating and developing the membership scheme, which has been hugely successful and has over 9,000 public members and well over 100 corporate members.”
Catherine Griffiths, chief executive of NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland, said: “I would like to thank John for his support over the four years we have worked together. He has achieved significant improvements in how the PCT works on behalf of our population.
“He is known as a fair, well-respected and diplomatic chairman, who is very passionate about the well-being of patients across Leicestershire and Rutland. He will be missed by everyone here at the trust and I wish him well for the future.”
The Appointments Commission is responsible for selecting the new chairman of NHS Leicestershire County and Rutland and an announcement will be made in the future on Mr Gant’s successor.
