Chair NHS Peterborough steps down

The chairman of a health trust which overspent by £12.8m has stepped down.

Marco Cereste, who is also leader of Peterborough City Council, stepped down from his role at NHS Peterborough to concentrate more on council business.

Earlier this month, NHS Peterborough said it needed to save £20m between 2010 and 2011 by ensuring services were "more co-ordinated and efficient".

The trust praised Mr Cereste for his dedication to "improving services for the people of Peterborough".

Sheila Bremner, interim chief executive of NHS Peterborough, said: "Marco has achieved an enormous amount for the local NHS over many years.

"The city now has the benefit of several significant developments, such as the City Care Centre and the new hospital that is due to open later this year."

Mr Cereste said: "The financial demands of the past months have posed some major challenges to NHS Peterborough.

"I am pleased to have been able to support Sheila Bremner, the interim chief executive, and the senior team in preparing the turnaround plan.

"Having completed this phase, this is a good time to hand over the leadership, and I am confident that the turnaround plan we have put in place will meet the needs of the people of Peterborough."