Calls for University Hospital of North Staffordshire chief executive Julia Bridgewater to withdraw her resignation

“its a very sad day for the UHNS - Jullia has proven her leadership through the most difficult and turbulent times over the last few years. She is well respected by the staff and has been a definite force for good in the NHS. Sadly without her I think the focus will change to saving and recouping money at the expense of patient care. There are many mangers in the UHNS who put production before safety and patient experience, Julia wasn't one of them - I wish her all the best and whoever follows her needs all the luck in the world to get the hospital back on track - Certainly to gain the respect of the staff they need quickly to prove that care under them will be patient focused and not perpetuate the decline into poor staffing, resources which will only result in a drop of standards. Lack of central funding and ridiculous fines for not meeting impossible targets have contributed greatly to the current problems, coupled with a move into a difficult to work in PFI hospital - life is not at all rosy in the NHS and at the UHNS staff work beyond the call of duty - but how long will they remain inspired to do so when they see good staff like Julie penalised for doing the right thing and not the cheap thing !”

“stokieatheart - Whilst l can understand your thinking, l have to say that when people with principles feel that theirs have been compromised by situations which are impossible for them to do anything about, then l would not want to be the one to ask them to reconsider their decision.

It is my opinion that the politicians do not want people with principles to be involved with the NHS because they want it to struggle so that they can justify the creeping privatisation that has already infected the NHS.

Starving the NHS of money was a factor in this plan working.

I do not know Julia Bridewater but l have the greatest respect for anyone who has the resolve to say enough is enough. I wish her the best of luck for her future.”

“For the sake of all the patients at UHNS I hope she reconsideres her resignation. The new CEO will be tasked to recoup the £27m, how do you think he is going to do that? If Julia couldnt do it without risking patient safety then its unlikely he will find the magic answer.”

“Successive Governments continue to make disasterous choices for the NHS. PFI has been an absolute sham and just bleeds money from the public purse into already mega rich private firms. Combine that with the kind of financial cuts that have seen nursing levels and bed numbers slashed and the culture of, commissioning, tendering, targets and financial penalties. Those kinds of decisions have brought the NHS to its knees, and means good guys like Julia Bridgewater are forced to resign because they just can't provide the services for the people of North Staffordshire under the constraints placed upon them. UHNS will be worse off for Julia's departure. She is local, has spent her entire career here, and has a vast experience of the trust, and the healthcare requirements of the patients of this city. But most of all she cares. You won't get that with the new incumbent. His remit will be to save money regardless of any other consideration. Services and potentially jobs will be slashed, and who will suffer, the patients. the difference is, the person at the helm will have no affinity with the Hospital or the people of Stoke On Trent.”

“Here's another e-mail backing Julia Bridgewater who was expected to do the impossible - i.e. get a quart into a pint pot. I feel must keep on saying that the new hospital complex has been undersized and underfunded from the start - there is no point in paying someone else more, because the end result will be the same - or worse for the N.Staffs people depending on the methods he uses in attempting to bring things under control.”

“We do not know the truth behind Julia Bridgewater's reasons for resigning, and in the secret world of the NHS we are unlikely to know. However, it says a lot when a Chief Executive who has been doing a good job, had the guts to open beds for the sake of the public, knowing full well that she would overspend her budget and get criticised for it, has to resign to secure additional funding.

Julia Bridgewater may have fallen on her sword, but at least she has made a statement about the way in which the NHS puts money before care.

Sounds like the Board are more concerned about their political masters than keeping the best the staff.”

“Will she wont she? (one farce to another).....”