Growth starts at the top

Published: 30 September, 2010

• TOM Foot was over-generous to Richard Arthur, chairman of Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust (War of words at the NHS trust, September 16). Mr Arthur says that he has pressed the trust’s well-paid chief executive, Wendy Wallace, to adopt the strategic objectives of Excellence, Innovation and Growth. 

It is hard to see how these are reflected by an organisation which continues to reduce services with the threat of closure of up to 100 further beds and where the only real area of growth is in the number of managers.

As far as excellence is concerned, Mr Arthur does not even achieve that in his own rating.  

From the view of the governors of the trust, the elected representatives, he scored less than three out of a possible five. This was only made respectable when it is averaged by the views of the directors, whom he of course appoints.

At the very best the assessment shows that Mr Arthur “needs to do better”.  
Danny Bloom
Tollington Park Road, N4