Martin Yeates

Stafford Hospital has finally advertised for a permanent new chief executive – although the fate of suspended boss Martin Yeates has not yet been decided.

An advert for the top job at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust was placed in the appointments section of a national newspaper, along with ads for a new chairman and non-executive directors.

None of the salaries on offer were listed but the chief executive’s pay was described as “competitive” and is likely to be up to £180,000, as with Mr Yeates. He is suspended on full pay of more than £3,000 a week pending the outcome of an internal inquiry.

Mr Yeates “stepped down” as chief executive of the trust in the weeks leading up to the release of the Healthcare Commission’s infamous report on Stafford Hospital, which told of “appalling” standards of care. He has never publicly apologised for the “harrowing” patient stories reported by investigators under his leadership.

Deborah Neale, a spokesman for the trust, said: “The position was advertised in order to provide, if needed, an appropriate amount of time for the search, selection and recruitment of this important and high profile post. The former CEO, Martin Yeates stepped down from his position in March 2009 but remains employed by the trust while a review of his activity is undertaken.

“The review, being carried out independently, will be completed in the near future.”

The advertisement for the chief executive’s job is headed “A new leader for a new future”. Alluding to the coverage of this year’s scandal across the national media, and the recommendations made to address Stafford Hospital’s problems, it reads: “Mid Staffordshire’s challenging recent past is well known. Mid Staffordshire seeks a new chief executive who is up to the challenge of leading a fundamental clinical and cultural change.”

Stafford’s MP David Kidney has welcomed the news. He said the move was a “crucial plank” in the plan for “wholesale change” at the top of the hospital trust’s leadership.

He said: “This advertisement demonstrates that the current interim leaders intend to get on with these changes as soon as possible.”

The former chief executive of Staffordshire Ambulance Service, Stafford man Roger Thayne, has said he intends to apply for the vacant chief executive’s post.