TRIBUTES have been paid to a former and popular chief executive of Winchester hospital who died recently.

Martin Wakeley was the senior manager at the then-Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust between 2007-2009.

It was the trust that ran the Royal Hampshire County Hospital before it merged with Basingstoke to form the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. It was a time of chronic financial difficulties.

He moved into the private sector but returned to be interim managing director of the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group in 2018-19. More recently he was working for the NHS in The Wirral as well as on the Isle of Wight.

Mr Wakeley, who was in his early 50s, is believed to have died of cancer.

Alex Whitfield, chief executive Hampshire Hospitals, said today: “Martin played an integral part as the chief executive of the former Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust at just 40 years old.

“To achieve so much at such a young age shows the infectious energy Martin was known for – inspiring others to make positive change along the way. An inspirational and dynamic leader, Martin kept staff and patients at the heart of everything, and was known for being open to new ideas and supporting colleagues to implement things that might have seemed impossible before.

“We are fortunate to have had Martin as part of our Hampshire Hospitals history - he made such a positive difference to patients and every one of the colleagues he met. Those who worked with him continue to focus on the things that were important to him – patient engagement and safety, and inspiring colleagues to engineer change.

“On behalf of everyone at Hampshire Hospitals our thoughts and deepest condolences are also with Martin’s family and friends.”

In an online tribute, former colleague Joe Smyth, chief operating officer at Isle of Wight NHS Trust, said: "Gone to soon, but a life lived improving the lives of others. I only worked with Martin for a short period of time, his dedication to improving services for patients, his care with how he spoke to the many people that worked for him was inspirational.

"A gentleman that touched so many lives and left a great legacy will be sadly missed even by those of us who only recently knew him."