The Trust has been hit by a number of crises in recent years

The chief executive of under fire Doncaster Royal Infirmary has taken the decision to retire, the Trust has announced.

Richard Parker had been away from work due to ill health since the end of last year at the same time the hospital was embroiled in a number of issues which saw his leadership come under fire.

An investigation revealed a “toxic” culture of bullying and harassment at the Trust while a senior medic who had raised concerns over the situation was fired.

Dr Tim Noble, who had been excluded from his role as medical director since September 2024, was dismissed after a probe flagging up his concerns.

In recent months, Doncaster Royal Infimary’s A&E department has come in for fierce cricticism from staff and patients and before Christmas the Care Quality Commission carried out a snap inspection over concerns for patient safety.

There was also a damning report on the state of the Trust’s audiology services department, which said children had been harmed.

In a statement issued this morning (Tuesday, June 9) Mark Bailey, Chair of the Board at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Trust, said: “Richard has dedicated his career to the NHS and has played a significant role in the development of services at DBTH.

“On behalf of the Trust, I would like to thank him for his leadership and long service, and we all send him our very best wishes for the future and wish him the very best of health and happiness in retirement.”

Zara Jones, Deputy Chief Executive, will continue to act up, and the Trust will confirm next steps regarding the Chief Executive role in the near future, Mr Bailey added.

Born and raised in Sheffield, Mr Parker began his NHS career as a Registered Nurse, qualifying in 1985.

He went on to hold a number of senior leadership roles across hospitals in the North of England before joining DBTH in October 2013 as Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Quality.

He was appointed Chief Executive in January 2017.

During his time as Chief Executive, he led the Trust through a number of complex and challenging periods, including the COVID-19 pandemic, and oversaw significant developments to improve services and facilities for local patients and communities, the Trust statement said.

This included transforming Urgent and Emergency Care at Bassetlaw Hospital, opening the Community Diagnostic Centre and supporting the development of the Mexborough Elective Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence at Montagu Hospital, introducing robotic surgery at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, strengthening Research and Innovation, and launching DBTH Charity as the Trust’s official charitable fund, among many other developments and improvements across the organisation.

The issues with Dr Noble first began in late 2023 and The Health Service Journal reported that the BMA claimed his exclusion was unlawful as he had been prevented from returning to work.

It reported: "The union, and some other doctors at the trust, told HSJ Dr Noble’s situation reflected a wider leadership and culture problem at DBTH.”

Shazia Karim, BMA head of region for Yorkshire and North East, told HSJ: “It is wholly unacceptable for this to happen to a senior doctor who has served the trust for almost 20 years and has raised concerns in the public interest about bullying and harassment. It reflects a toxic culture within the trust that must be addressed.

Ms Karim said there were “concerns across the trust regarding bullying and the loss of experienced and capable senior staff”, and “a growing and widespread loss of confidence in the trust’s senior leadership”.

Last year, an unnamed medic lifted the lid on life at the Armthorpe Road hospital, saying: "Sadly, there is a culture of bullying at Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.

"This has resulted in a high turnover of staff at a senior level, including executives, their deputies, managers and senior nurses.

"The treatment of some of these staff members has been appalling and has had a lasting effect on their mental health.”

Earlier this year, the Government stepped in at DRI saying bespoke plans were being drawn up at Trusts with the highest rates of corridor care.

A spokesperson said: “Expert teams are being deployed to the most affected hospitals, providing bespoke clinical support to leadership staff, as early data shows the majority of corridor care is concentrated in a small number of NHS trusts.”