THE chief executive of Bury Primary Care Trust is to retire early, it has been revealed.

Evan Boucher (56) has been the trust's chief executive since its creation in April 2002 and was previously acting chief executive of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, having joined as director of strategic planning in Bury in 1995.

He will stay in the role until the end of March before handing over the reins to the current deputy chief executive, Stephen Mills.

Mr Boucher said: "My decision to retire has not been taken lightly however, after 35 years of working, I feel it is the right time for all concerned for me to hand over the reins. The Primary Care Trust achieved a three star rating last year and it's always been my intention to quit at the top."

The announcement comes at a time when health services in Bury are at the centre of a major reconfiguration programme affecting the north east of Greater Manchester. These include plans to invest £100 million into creating 35 health centres to bring more hospital services into the community.

The programme also includes the Healthy Futures and Making it Better proposals which could signal the closure of Fairfield Hospital's maternity department, and special care baby unit, along with acute surgery services. The proposals were launched for formal public consultation last Thursday and a final decision is expected to be made in June by representatives from the 17 primary care trusts in the affected areas.

Mr Boucher said: "No time is the perfect time to leave. I have spent almost 11 years of my career working in the NHS in Bury and I am very proud of the improvements that have been initiated during this time.

"We are at the beginning of another exciting and challenging time in the NHS, for example with the development of the new primary care centres, so I feel it is timely for new leadership arrangements to take on the next set of challenges."

He added: "I have been privileged to work with a great team of people in Bury who are dedicated to improving our health services. I wish to thank them for their tremendous support and wish them well for the future."

Hilda Harvey, chairman of the Primary Care Trust (PCT), said: "Anyone who knows Evan will agree that his commitment to developing and improving health services in Bury over the last 11 years has been unswerving.

"The performance of Bury PCT is not only a credit to its staff but also to the level of guidance and motivation that Evan has provided. He will be greatly missed and we wish him the very best for the future."

Following Mr Boucher's departureMr Mills is being promoted to acting chief executive, Anne Coates will become acting deputy chief executive while Andrew Harrison will become acting director of finance.

l For more information about the formal public consultation process, visit www.bestforhealth.nhs.uk