A KEY FIGURE in the development of York's hospital services is to step down after 41 years in the NHS.

George Wood, who has filled the deputy chief executive role at York Hospital for the last 21 years, is to retire on September 3.

During his career he has been through five NHS reorganisations, and co-ordinated four major hospital closures, as well as coping with industrial disputes and major incidents.

He first applied for a job as a junior clerk at St James's Hospital in Leeds in 1963, and has been involved in many management areas since moving to York in 1983.

The most memorable issue he had to face was the co-ordination of the big hospital closures in York in the 1980s.

"I was heavily involved in the closures of Naburn, Claypenny, the City and Clifton Hospitals, and the redevelopment programmes. It was an immensely enjoyable time. You could see a huge difference in the standard of facilities."

The closures were controversial and attracted staff, relatives and local residents to packed public meetings. The process has been described as a massive negotiation exercise, in which Mr Wood acted as the "middle man".

"There were some people who had massive concerns about what we were doing, but I never had a doubt that we were doing the right thing. The team we were working with had a clear vision, but the opposition at times was very vociferous and it was important to understand why. That understanding was often gained face-to-face," he said.

"The closures were probably my biggest challenge. We were dealing with people's homes and people's lives."

Mr Wood, 58, was also chairman of the York Drugs Resource Scheme (now Compass) for 17 years, and more recently a trustee of York People First.

The chief executive of the York Hospitals Trust, Jim Easton, said: "It is hard to overestimate George's huge personal contribution to health care for the people of York and Selby.

"York Hospital today provides treatment that was not even dreamed of when George's career began.

"It has grown enormously in the numbers of people we treat and the numbers of staff who treat them, and we are now rebuilding the physical fabric of the hospital building itself. In all these things, George's personal contribution has been enormous.

He is also a remarkable individual. Ask any of the many people he has worked with, within the NHS, with our partners, in local communities, and they will all describe a man of great warmth, integrity and commitment."

Asked about his retirement plans, Mr Wood said: "My immediate goal is to successfully complete the Dublin Marathon at the end of October 2004.

"This will require some serious training in September and October".

Updated: 08:34 Thursday, August 26, 2004