The woman who led the Isle of Wight NHS Trust from special measures to good is heading for pastures new.

Chief Executive Maggie Oldham will take up a new role on secondment to help other NHS organisations improve.

She will join the National Intensive Support Team at NHS England & Improvement from December 1.

Darren Cattell, the trust’s deputy chief executive and director of finance, estates and information management and technology (IM&T), is being seconded into the role of chief executive at St Mary's from that date.

In a message to staff shared earlier today Maggie Oldham said: “It has been an honour to work so closely with you during the last four years. I am tremendously proud of everything we have achieved together, especially delivering the improvements highlighted by the recent Care Quality Commission report.”

Read more: Financial recovery at Isle of Wight NHS Trust despite Covid.

Trust chairman Melloney Poole said: “Maggie has served Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Island residents with distinction since taking up the role of chief executive in 2017.

“Maggie’s dedication to supporting staff health and wellbeing and delivering high quality, compassionate services for our community has helped to drive the organisation forward even with the added challenges of the pandemic.

“Along with the wider leadership team she has worked hard to bring about sustainable improvement in the services that Islanders rely on.

"Working with the National Intensive Support Team she will be able to put her expertise and energy to good use supporting the improvement of services in other parts of the health service.

“Colleagues on the Island and across the Hampshire and Isle of Wight health and care system will miss her greatly and we are all extremely grateful for the way she has led this organisation through its improvement journey.”

The trust said Darren’s appointment ensures consistent leadership as the trust builds on its recent success in achieving a Good rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and works to make its services clinically and financially sustainable for the benefit of the Isle of Wight community.