By Craig RobinsonTHE chairman of another of the region's primary care trusts announced last night that he has decided to stand down.Brian Parrott was appointed chairman of Central Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust in 2002, but will leave the post in March to focus on his national roles with the NHS.

By Craig Robinson

THE chairman of another of the region's primary care trusts announced last night that he has decided to stand down.

Brian Parrott was appointed chairman of Central Suffolk NHS Primary Care Trust in 2002, but will leave the post in March to focus on his national roles with the NHS.

He became the second primary care trust chairman in Suffolk to announce his departure after Lilian Power resigned in October last year as chairman of Ipswich Primary Care Trust.

Ms Power quit after accusing regional heal bosses of a culture of bullying, claiming she had lost confidence in the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority.

Mr Parrott said he had decided to stand down to spend more of time on “other responsibilities and other opportunities to influence developments and improvements in the NHS nationally”.

He added: “I am very closely involved with the NHS in a number of different roles, and especially importantly, the NHS relationship with local government and social services.”

In a letter to NHS colleagues, Mr Parrott emphasised his support for the new way of working across the Suffolk East Primary Care Trusts.

“The three East Suffolk Primary Care Trusts have now integrated the management of most of their previously separate functions under a single interim chief executive and executive team. I agree with this,” he said.

“Further changes are likely for the primary care trusts over the next year or so. I am very supportive of Tony Robinson in his role of chairing the joint strategic board across the three East Suffolk Primary Care Trusts.

“I shall continue to be very supportive of the NHS in Suffolk, the high quality of services and the dedication of practitioners and staff.”

Last year Mr Parrott was appointed as an interim non-executive director of the Independent Regulator of NHS Foundation Trusts.

He is also currently a director of Verita, a national inquiries, investigations and reviews consultancy and undertakes work for the Department of Health and Centre for Public Scrutiny as well as working as an independent social care, health and local government consultant.

“I want to thank many people for their advice and support to me and my colleagues in Central Suffolk since 2002 and for their commitment and immense efforts on behalf of patients and the NHS in the county and wish them all the very best for the future,” added Mr Parrott.

Carole Taylor-Brown, interim chief executive of the Suffolk East Primary Care Trusts, said: “It's a sad loss for the NHS locally as Brian has been a great support. I am sure he will make a great contribution to the NHS nationally in his other roles”.

Mr Parrott will continue to be fully active as chairman of Central Suffolk Primary Care Trust until the end of March.

The NHS Appointments Commission will make an announcement regarding acting chairman arrangements after that date.

craig.robinson@eadt.co.uk