Tributes paid to departing Brighton hospital chief

Tributes were paid to the outgoing chief executive of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton today (Monday 30 April).

Julian Lee, chairman of Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the Royal Sussex, said: “I would just like to say a huge thank you to Duncan Selbie. We owe him a lot.

“He has done a huge amount for the hospital in the past five years and we are very grateful to him.”

Duncan Selbie

Mr Selbie, who has steered through the planning application for the £420 million modernisation of the Eastern Road hospital, has been appointed to a new organisation called Public Health England.

Mr Lee said jokingly that as a result he was sure that in ten years’ time there would be no deaths from diabetes, smoking and alcohol – and probably no fun.

He added: “We won the world cup once (with Mr Selbie’s appointment). We need to win it again.

“I will lead the recruitment process. We will be advertising and appointing headhunters.

“I have had at least six phone calls from people who I am sure will be putting their CVs forward and that’s before we’ve even started the recruitment process. It’s the best job in the NHS.”

Mick Lister, of the Brighton and Hove Local Involvement Network (LINk), the patient watchdog, paid tribute to Mr Selbie at a meeting of the trust’s board. He praised his receptiveness, openness, honesty and good humour.

Mr Selbie will leave at the end of May. Chris Adcock, the finance director, will become acting chief executive while the trust looks for a permanent replacement.