THE Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA), which runs The Royal Oldham Hospital, has appointed a new chairperson following the sudden death of its former chairman.

Professor Eileen Fairhurst was selected to lead the organisation by the trust’s Council of Governors on July 21 following the unexpected death of the NCA’s former chairman, Professor Michael Luger earlier this year.

Professor Fairhurst is currently chair of the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) and has chaired several large, complex public and third sector organisations, including acute, specialised mental health and primary care trusts.

After establishing the Salford Primary Care Trust (PCT) in 2001, it became one of the highest performing primary care trusts in the country. Latterly, she was the chair of NHS Greater Manchester where she helped facilitate the establishment of twelve CCGs in the ten Greater Manchester boroughs.

Eileen Fairhurst is a professor in Public Health at the University of Salford where she has an international research profile.

The exact details including the date of her departure from ELHT and when she is due to start at the NCA are yet to be finalised with Chris Mayer continuing to hold the position as interim chair of the NCA trust.

In April chief executive of the NCA Dr Owen Williams, informed colleagues across the organisation of Professor Michael Luger’s death.

In a message to staff, Dr Williams said: “This is obviously a huge shock and as we come to terms with this news our thoughts and condolences are with his wife and family.

“Michael joined the NCA in January 2021 and played an integral role in our journey to formally becoming our single trust in October 2021. He brought to us the extensive knowledge and experience that he accumulated over his long career working in higher education, international governments, and industry. I know his colleagues and peers at the University of Manchester and in education will be equally devastated by this news.

“Michael was extremely passionate and positive about the NHS and our organisation, and all of the opportunities that we have to build on for our patients, communities and colleagues. It is extremely saddening that we will not have him with us as we continue our journey.

“I know many people will have met and had the pleasure of working with Michael either in his capacity as chair of our trust or in his previous roles. He will be sorely missed by many.”