THE chief executive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has quit.
David Whiting has stepped down from the top job following two years of industrial unrest within the service.
He will be replaced temporarily by the current deputy Rod Barnes, the executive director of finance and performance.
Paramedics, who have held strikes against the changes to shift patterns and meal breaks, have welcomed the news.
Mr Whiting said it was "right" for him to step down and to pursue new challenges.
He said: "Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) has much to be proud of with a fantastic team of dedicated people committed to delivering the best possible services for patients whilst leading the country in terms of results for patients in major trauma and cardiac arrest survival.
"I have been proud to lead the organisation and, with new challenges and exciting opportunities ahead, I believe YAS will benefit from a change of leadership bringing fresh ideas and insights to keep YAS moving in the right direction. From a personal point of view, I feel it is also right for me to pursue new challenges and opportunities."
A paramedic, who did not want to be named for fear of losing his job, said: "Staff are elated he has gone because moral has been that bad under his leadership.
"This can only be good news as he is responsible for causing the industrial unrest.
"We welcome this news and we hope that we can now move forward and deliver the service the patients deserve.
"However, Mr Whiting is just the figurehead and there is still a very real risk of further unrest unless significant changes are made.
"We hope this is a step in the right direction towards that."
YAS chairman Della Cannings praised Mr Whiting for his contribution to running the service.
She said: "Over the past four years David has worked hard to ensure YAS is an asset to Yorkshire and its communities, providing quality emergency and urgent care services, NHS 111, patient transport and other services.
"No other ambulance service has such a comprehensive suite of offers to the public.
"On behalf of the Trust Board I want to thank David for his leadership and the significant contribution he has made to us on our journey to become a Foundation Trust.
"I wish David well in his new ventures."
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