THE chief executive of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust will be leaving at the end of the year after announcing he is taking earlier retirement.

Edward Colgan made his announcement in a letter to trust staff.

He said: “I am incredibly proud to have been associated with Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, its staff and its successes and achievements over the past nine years.

"It has been a great privilege to work with you all.

“A key focus and challenge for me in my final months with the Trust will be the CQC inspection in September 2015. I will be giving my full support to ensure a successful outcome to this inspection.”

Mr Colgan also re-iterated his commitment to travel across the county to meet with staff one final time, to thank them and to say goodbye.

Stephen Ladyman, chairman of Somerset Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, paid tribute to Mr Colgan and said: “Edward has spent his career in the NHS, much of it here in Somerset and was the chief executive of Taunton Deane PCT before joining Somerset Partnership Health and Social Care NHS Trust in 2006.

“At that time Somerset Partnership was a mental health trust with a turnover of £57 million.

"He has led the Trust through the achievement of NHS Foundation Trust status in 2008 and the acquisition of the Somerset Community Health Services provider arm in 2011.

"He has overseen our subsequent growth until now we have a turnover of around £160 million and employ more than 4000 staff.

"Throughout that time Edward has ensured that we have remained focused on the quality and safety of our patient services.

“Under Edward’s leadership the Trust has flourished in face of the huge challenges facing the NHS and I am most grateful to him for the massive contribution he has made to our work, the communities we serve and to the wider NHS. He will be missed greatly.”

Plans are now in place to recruit a new chief executive.

Mr Colgan will remain in post until December 31 2015.