THE resignation of a hospital trust chairman has been likened to ‘rats leaving a sinking ship’ by a health campaigner who fears for what will happen next.

George Jenkins was appointed to head up the South London Healthcare NHS Trust in spring 2009 and often made headlines attempting to tackling the trust’s financial situation.

He is credited by the trust as leading it through a very complex merger and challenging series of service changes.

He was also in charge of steering the trust towards NHS foundation status and campaigner Julie Mott, of Red Cedars Road, Orpington, is surprised he did not stay on to finish the job.

Mrs Mott said: “Is it the rats leaving the sinking ship?

“It’s quite worrying in one way because the trust is still in financial trouble and we are not out of the woods and for him to abandon ship, I just don’t know.

“I would think he would want to see it through to foundation status.

“Did he leave or was he pushed?

“Are the wheels coming off the train?”

The 64-year-old added: “I’m not sure whether it’s a good thing he has gone or not.

“I just hope if they get a new chairman then the trust goes forwards rather than stays stagnated.”

In a statement issued to trust staff George Jenkins said: “Last year we made higher savings than any other trust in London but we now have to spend the next few years getting to a position of financial balance.

"I feel that it is better to stand aside at this point and begin this next phase with a new chairman who can take the trust to FT status which I'm confident it can."

The trust’s deputy chairman John Ballard will be acting chairman until a permanent chairman is appointed.