THE NHS has drafted in an expert with a wealth of experience in running struggling hospitals in an effort to deal with the ongoing crisis in Worcestershire.

Marie-Noelle Orzel has been appointed as improvement director at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust – the organisation running Redditch's Alexandra Hospital, Worcestershire Royal Hospital and Kidderminster Hospital – by the NHS Trust Development Authority (TDA).

The trust has been under serious pressure for months, with lengthening waiting times, a deepening financial deficit and an increasingly lengthy operations backlog.

Ms Orzel, who has a background in nursing and worked as an improvement director at North Cumbria University Hospitals and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trusts while they were under special measures, will work alongside bosses at the trust to develop solutions to the problems and will be meeting with its board.

She said: “I look forward to meeting with trust staff over the coming weeks and working closely with them to develop a robust, integrated improvement plan.

“There is clear evidence of good practice at the trust and we need to coordinate all improvement actions already in progress, address the issues in the emergency care pathway and work with the trust’s health partners to improve patient flow and the patient care experience across all services.”

Although her role involves working closely with the leadership team at the trust on an ‘embedded’ basis, she will not be involved in the actual running of the organisation.

The trust has also appointed previous deputy chief medical officer at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust Dr Andy Phillips to provide clinical support and guidance to the board.

Dr Phillips said he was pleased to be working with the trust and ultimately improve patient care.

“I look forward to working closely with clinical colleagues at the trust to address the issues, and ensure good practice already in place is applied throughout the organisation, with strong clinical leadership in all teams,” he said.

The trust’s deputy chief executive Chris Tidman welcomed the two appointments.

“We are taking urgent action to make sure we deliver the high quality urgent and emergency care our patients deserve, as well as addressing challenges in all areas of the organisation,” he said.

“Marie-Noelle and Andy are welcomed warmly by the trust board and we look forward to working with them to progress improvements and sustain delivery of high quality care.

“Their significant clinical expertise and guidance will ensure that changes and best practice are embedded throughout the trust’s services to benefit our patients.”

The two appointments come just two weeks after a ‘disaster doctor’ was drafted into the Royal’s A&E in an effort to regain control of the pressures.

The TDA, which is responsible for providing leadership and support to all 90 non-foundation NHS trusts in the UK while monitoring their performance and where necessary helps them improve, will hold regular meetings with the acute trust to oversee the improvement process.

Both Ms Orzel and Dr Phillips have started their new roles immediately.