THE chairman of the trust which runs Whipps Cross University Hospital has quit.

Stephen Jacobs OBE today announced he has resigned as chairman of Whipps Cross University Hospital NHS Trust after holding the post for seven years.

In his letter of resignation, he said: "I wish to record my heartfelt thanks to the board, staff and volunteers at Whipps.

"They have enabled the hospital to have achieved much during my tenure.

"There is still work to do and I wish my successor further opportunities to develop the very best services for our patients."

Mr Jacobs will be replaced on an interim basis by Anne Whitaker who is currently a non-executive director of the trust and chair of the Audit Committee.

Dr Lucy Moore, chief executive of the trust, said: "We are very grateful to Stephen for leading the trust at a time of great change in the NHS both nationally and locally.

"His passion for Whipps Cross was evident in everything he did and the organisation certainly moved forward during his time as chairman.

"We wish him the very best in the future."

Click here to follow the Waltham Forest Guardian on Twitter