Coun Bill Thomas steps down from Sandwell and West Birmingham Health Trust

Nov 12 2008 By Dale Williams, Birmingham Mail

SANDWELL Council leader Bill Thomas is stepping down from Sandwell and West Birmingham Health Trust after serving the NHS for 27 years.

“It will be a real wrench to go but I feel that this is the right time.,” he said.

Coun Thomas (pictured) said he finally made up his mind to stand down when the plans for the new multi-million-pound hospital in Grove Lane, Smethwick, were approved last week.

“When I started all those years ago I was instrumental in the policy to put fluoride in water supplied in the Sandwell area.

“It was a controversial move, but it has subsequently been proved to have played a major part in improving the healthcare of the people in Sandwell.”

Coun Thomas (Lab, Rowley)started off on the then Dudley Community Health Council.

He then moved on to the Sandwell District Health Authority, which was responsible for all of the hospital services in the borough.

After working on the Sandwell Health Authority he became chairman of the Black Country Mental Heath Trust where he was responsible for the major re-organisation of services.

It included closing Sandwell wards at All Saints Hospital, in Winson Green, Birmingham and St Margaret’s Hospital, in Grerat Barr, and moving patients out into the community so that they received better treatment.

Coun Thomas served on the Mental Health Trust for 11 years which resulted in him being awarded the OBE for his services to the National Health Service.

He has latterly served as a non-executive director on the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospital Trust looking after Sandwell General Hospital, Rowley Hospital and City Hospital, in Winson Greeen, Birmingham.

Coun Thomas added: “I feel that 27 years is a long enough innings and now is the right time to go.

“I am proud to have worked in a National Health Service started by Nye Bevan albeit at a local level.”