BRIDGET Fletcher – chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust – has announced her retirement.

She will relinquish the post, which she has held since 2010, in May.

Ms Fletcher originally trained as a nurse, moving into leadership after two decades of clinical practice.

She spent 12 years as a ward sister.

In 2005 she was appointed director of nursing at Airedale, a role she fulfilled until taking over as chief exec.

During her tenure in the top post she has overseen the development of the trust's state-of-the-art telemedicine service, and the construction and opening of the new emergency department.

And the trust has been named among the CHKS top 40 hospitals for performance and quality six times.

But she has also faced considerable challenges.

Current plans to set-up a subsidiary company to run hospital facilities and procurement services at Airedale are proving hugely controversial and have sparked vehement opposition.

Ms Fletcher said: "I didn't come to the decision to retire lightly.

"I care deeply for the NHS and have very much enjoyed working for Airedale, but the time is now right for me to retire.

"I am proud of everything we have achieved – and keep on achieving – as a trust.

"None of it would have been possible without our fantastic, dedicated staff who look after people when they're at their most vulnerable, and the teams which support them.

"It's always the people who make a job enjoyable and I will miss our staff most of all."

Tribute is paid by the trust's acting chairman, Andrew Gold.

"Bridget has always focused on delivering high-quality patient services to the local population and embraced innovation to enable Airedale to sustain that," he said.

"She has led Airedale to a respected position in the health economy locally, regionally and nationally, which will enable the trust to continue to flourish well into the future.

"I know a decision to retire now will not have been an easy one for her, but I fully understand her choice and thank her for her enormous contribution."

The trust's board of directors will now begin the process of recruiting a successor.